The study of bifurcations of vectorfields is concerned with changes in qualitative behaviour that can occur when a non-structurally stable vectorfield is perturbed. In a sense, this is the study of how such a vectorfield fails to be structurally stable. Finding a systematic approach to the study of such questions is a difficult problem. One approach to bifurcations of vectorfields, known as "generic bifurcation theory," is the subject of much of the work of Sotomayor (Sotomayor [1973a], Sotomayor [1973b],Sotomayor [1974]). This approach attempts to construct generic families of k-parameter vectorfields (usually for k=1), for which all the bifurcations can be described. In Sotomayor [1973a] it is stated that the vectorfields associated with the "generic" bifurcations of individual critical elements for k-parameter vectorfields form submanifolds of codimension ≤ k of the Banach space ϰʳ (M) of vectorfields on a compact manifold M. The bifurcations associated with one of these submanifolds of codimension-k are called generic codimension-k bifurcations. In Sotomayor [1974] the construction of these submanifolds and the description of the associated bifurcations of codimension-1 for vectorfields on two dimensional manifolds is presented in detail. The bifurcations that occur are due to the parameterised vectorfield crossing one of these manifolds transversely as the parameter changes. Abraham and Robbin used transversality results for evaluation maps to prove the Kupka-Smale theorem in Abraham and Robbin [1967]. In this thesis, we shall show how an extension of these evaluation transversality techniques will allow us to construct the submanifolds of ϰʳ (M) associated with one type of generic bifurcation of critical elements, and we shall consider how this approach might be extended to include the other well known generic bifurcations. For saddle-node type bifurcations of critical points, we will show that the changes in qualitative behaviour are related to geometric properties of the submanifold Σ₀ of ϰʳ (M) x M, where Σ₀ is the pull-back of the set of zero vectors-or zero section-by the evaluation map for vectorfields. We will look at the relationship between the Taylor series of a vector-field X at a critical point ⍴ and the geometry of Σ₀ at the corresponding point (X,⍴) of ϰʳ (M) x M. This will motivate the non-degeneracy conditions for the saddle-node bifurcations, and will provide a more general geometric picture of this approach to studying bifurcations of critical points. Finally, we shall consider how this approach might be generalised to include other bifurcations of critical elements. / Science, Faculty of / Mathematics, Department of / Graduate

Fertilized frog eggs (and cell-free extracts) undergo periodic oscillations in the activity of "M-phase promoting factor" (MPF), the crucial triggering enzyme for mitosis (nuclear division) and cell division. MPF activity is regulated by a complex network of biochemical reactions. Novak and Tyson, and their collaborators, have been studying the qualitative and quantitative properties of a large system of nonlinear ordinary differential equations that describe the molecular details of this system as currently known. Important clues to the behavior of the model are provided by bifurcation theory, especially characterization of the codimension-1 and -2 bifurcation sets of the differential equations. To illustrate this method, I have been studying a system of 9 ordinary differential equations that describe the frog egg cell cycle with some fidelity. I will describe the bifurcation diagram of this system in a parameter space spanned by the rate constants for cyclin synthesis and cycling degradation. My results suggest either that the cell cycle control system should show dynamical behavior considerably more complex than the limit cycles and steady states reported so far, or that the biochemical rate constants of the system are constrained to avoid regions of parameter space where complex bifurcation points unfold. / Ph. D.

This thesis details the investigation into the Whirling Planar Pendulum system. The WPP is a pendulum that is spun around a vertical spin axis at a controllable horizontal offset. This dynamical system exhibits both local and global bifurcations. The local pitchfork bifurcation leads to the splitting of a single stable equilibrium point into three (two stable and one unstable), as the spin rate is increased. The global bifurcations lead to two independent types of chaotic oscillations which are induced by sinusoidal excitations. The types of chaos are each associated with one of two homoclinic orbits in the system's phase portraits. The onset of each type of chaos is investigated through Melnikov's Method applied to the system's Hamiltonian, to find parameters at which the stable and unstable manifolds intersect transversely, indicating the onset of chaotic motion. These results are compared to simulation results, which suggest chaotic motion through the appearance of strange attractors in the Poincaré maps. Additionally, evidence of the WPP system experiencing both types of chaos simultaneously was found, resulting in a merger of two distinct types of strange attractor. / Master of Science / This report details the investigation into the Whirling Planar Pendulum system. The WPP is a pendulum that is spun around a vertical spin axis at a controllable horizontal offset. This system can be used to investigate what are known as local and global bifurcations. A local bifurcation occurs when the single equilibrium state (corresponding to the pendulum hanging straight down) when spun at low speeds, bifurcates into three equilibria when the spin rate is increased beyond a certain value. The global bifurcations occur when the system experiences sinusoidal forcing near certain equilibrium conditions. The resulting chaotic oscillations are investigated using Melnikov’s method, which determines when the sinusoidal forcing results in chaotic motion. This chaotic motion comes in two types, which cause the system to behave in different ways. Melnikov’s method, and results from a simulation were used to determine the parameter values in which the pendulum experiences each type of chaos. It was seen that at certain parameter values, the WPP experiences both types of chaos, supporting the observation that these types of chaos are not necessarily independent of each other, but can merge and interact.

Thesis (Ph.D) - University of Queensland, 2006. / Includes bibliography.

published_or_final_version / Mechanical Engineering / Master / Master of Philosophy

Dynamical systems theory and bifurcation are used to analyze some simple models of nutrient limited phytoplankton growth. The models are restricted to batch culture type conditions allowing the use of a mass balance constraint. Two popular models from the literature, the Michaelis-Menton-Monod or M³ model, and the Droop internal nutrient model are analyzed and found to yield unreasonable predictions for certain ambient environmental conditions. The M³ model predicts that the population size becomes unbounded at equilibrium for certain values of the parameters. The Droop model predicts that the amount of nutrient left over during a nutrient uptake experiment would be very small, regardless of how large the initial external nutrient concentration is. Numerical comparisons of data with the predictions from both models demonstrate that the conditions for unreasonable behavior could occur both in cultures and in natural aquatic ecosystems. In the predicted nutrient concentration at uptake equilibrium is several orders of magnitude off. Two specific enzyme mechanisms for nutrient transport are proposed as alternatives to current models. The models differ in the assumptions made about how the backflow reaction with the enzymes responsible for transport proceeds. A nutrient uptake equation for each model is derived directly from the enzyme kinetics, while the equation for growth in population size is taken from the Droop model. The dynamics of both models are analyzed, treating the nutrient uptake equations with the singular perturbation assumption. The simple model predicts that the external nutrient concentration at uptake equilibrium should be a constant percentage of the internal concentration, while in the inhibition uptake model, the population size could exhibit relaxation type oscillations during the batch culture steady state. Qualitative evidence supporting both models is discussed. Applications of these models to water quality simulation and implications for theoretical ecology are discussed.

by Luk Wai Shing. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1993. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 44-45). / ABSTRACT --- p.i / ACKNOWLEDGMENTS --- p.ii / Chapter CHAPTER 1. --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter CHAPTER 2. --- DRAWBACKS OF CLASSICAL THEORY --- p.4 / Chapter 2.1 --- Review of Sequential Iterative Methods --- p.4 / Chapter 2.2 --- Visualization Techniques --- p.8 / Chapter 2.3 --- Review of Deflation --- p.10 / Chapter CHAPTER 3. --- THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE ABERTH METHOD --- p.11 / Chapter 3.1 --- The Durand-Kerner method and the Aberth method --- p.11 / Chapter 3.2 --- The generalized Aberth method --- p.13 / Chapter 3.3 --- The modified Aberth Method for multiple-zero --- p.13 / Chapter 3.4 --- Choosing the initial approximations --- p.15 / Chapter 3.5 --- Multiplicity estimation --- p.16 / Chapter CHAPTER 4. --- THE HIGHER-ORDER ITERATIVE METHODS --- p.18 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.18 / Chapter 4.2 --- Convergence analysis --- p.20 / Chapter 4.3 --- Numerical Results --- p.28 / Chapter CHAPTER 5. --- PARALLEL DEFLATION --- p.32 / Chapter 5.1 --- The Algorithm --- p.32 / Chapter 5.2 --- The Problem of Zero Component --- p.34 / Chapter 5.3 --- The Problem of Round-off Error --- p.35 / Chapter CHAPTER 6. --- HOMOTOPY ALGORITHM --- p.36 / Chapter 6.1 --- Introduction --- p.36 / Chapter 6.2 --- Choosing Q(z) --- p.37 / Chapter 6.3 --- The arclength continuation method --- p.38 / Chapter 6.4 --- The bifurcation problem --- p.40 / Chapter 6.5 --- The suggested improvement --- p.41 / Chapter CHAPTER 7. --- CONCLUSION --- p.42 / REFERENCES --- p.44 / APPENDIX A. PROGRAM LISTING --- p.A-l / APPENDIX B. COLOR PLATES --- p.B-l

by Kwok, Wong-chuen Tony. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1993. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves [85-86]). / Acknowledgement / Abstract / Chapter I --- Laguerre's Method in Polynomial Zero-finding / Chapter 1 --- Background --- p.1 / Chapter 2 --- Introduction and Problems of Laguerre´ةs Method --- p.3 / Chapter 2.1 --- Laguerre´ةs Method in Symmetrie-Cluster Problem / Chapter 2.2 --- Cyclic Behaviour / Chapter 2.3 --- Supercluster Problem / Chapter 3 --- Proposed Enhancement to Laguerre 's Method --- p.9 / Chapter 3.1 --- Analysis of Adding a Zero or Pole / Chapter 3.2 --- Proposed Algorithm / Chapter 4 --- Conclusion --- p.17 / Chapter II --- Homotopy Methods applied to Polynomial Zero-finding / Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.18 / Chapter 2 --- Overcoming Bifurcation --- p.22 / Chapter 3 --- Comparison of Homotopy Algorithms --- p.27 / Chapter 4 --- Conclusion --- p.29 / Appendices / Chapter I --- Laguerre's Method in Polynomial Zero-finding / Chapter 0 --- Naming of Testing Polynomials / Chapter 1 --- Finding All Zeros using Proposed Laguerre's Method / Chapter 2 --- Experiments: Selected Pictures of Comparison of Proposed Strategy with Other Strategy / Chapter 3 --- Experiments: Tables of Comparison of Proposed Strategy with Other Strategy / Chapter 4 --- Distance Colorations and Target Colorations / Chapter II --- Homotopy Methods applied to Polynomial Zero-finding / Chapter 1 --- Comparison of Algorithms using Homotopy Method / Chapter 2 --- Experiments: Selected Pictorial Comparison / Chapter III --- An Example Demonstrating Effect of Round-off Errors References

We study Schrödinger operators perturbed by non-compact (spatially extended) defects. We consider two models: a one-dimensional (1D) dimer structure with a global phase shift, and a two-dimensional (2D) honeycomb structure with a line-defect or "edge''. In both the 1D and 2D settings, the non-compact defects are modeled by adiabatic, domain wall modulations of the respective dimer and honeycomb structures. Our main results relate to the rigorous construction of states via bifurcations from continuous spectra. These bifurcations are controlled by asymptotic effective (homogenized) equations that underlie the protected or non-protected character of the states. In 1D, the states we construct are localized solutions. In 2D, they are "edge states'' - time-harmonic solutions which are propagating (plane-wave-like) parallel to a line-defect or "edge'' and are localized transverse to it. The states are described as protected if they persist in the presence of spatially localized (even strong) deformations of the global phase defect (in 1D) or edge (in 2D). The protected states bifurcate from "Dirac points'' (linear/conical spectral band-crossings) in the continuous spectra and are seeded by an effective Dirac equation. The (more conventional) non-protected states bifurcate from spectral band edges are seeded by an effective Schrödinger equation. Our 2D model captures many aspects of the phenomenon of topologically protected edge states observed in honeycomb structures such as graphene and "artificial graphene''. The protected states we construct in our 1D dimer model can be realized as highly robust TM- electromagnetic modes for a class of photonic waveguides with a phase-defect. We present a detailed computational study of an experimentally realizable photonic waveguide array structure.

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