Relationships Between the Discriminant Curve and Other Bifurcation Diagrams

The parameter dependence of the number and type of the stationary points of an ODE is considered. The number of the stationary points is determined by the saddle-node (SN) bifurcation set and their type (e.g., stability) is given by another bifurcation diagram (e.g., Hopf bifurcation set). The relation between these bifurcation curves on the parmeter plane is investigated. It is shown that the cross-shaped diagram, when the Hopf bifurcation curve makes a loop around a cusp point of the SN curve, is typical in some sense. It is proved that the two bifurcation curves meet tangentially at their common points (Takens–Bogdanov point), and these common points persist as a third parameter is varied. An example is shown that exhibits two different types of 3-codimensional degenerate Takens–Bogdanov bifurcation.