All Questions
43 questions
101
votes
1
answer
8k
views
Dropping three bodies
Consider the usual three-body problem with Newtonian
$1/r^2$ force between masses. Let the three masses start off at rest,
and not collinear. Then they will become collinear a finite time ...
- 8,336
21
votes
0
answers
416
views
Can a 4D spacecraft, with just a single rigid thruster, achieve any rotational velocity?
(Copied from MSE. Offering four bounties over time, I got no response, other than twenty-nine upvotes.)
It seems preposterous at first glance. I just want to be sure. Even in 3D the behaviour of ...
- 281
14
votes
2
answers
390
views
Is there a singularity theorem in higher-dimensional Newtonian gravity?
In classical Newtonian gravity with 3 spatial dimensions, it's hard to get two particles to exactly collide, since at short distance the centrifugal force (~1/$r^3$) beats the gravitational attraction ...
- 273
13
votes
1
answer
661
views
Poincaré on analytic dependence on parameters of solutions of linear differential equations
There is the following important General Principle: if a parameter enters
in a linear differential equation additively, for example
$$\frac{d^2w}{dx^2}+(q(x)+\lambda)w=0,$$
where the parameter is $\...
- 91.8k
11
votes
1
answer
1k
views
How to eliminate secular terms for perturbed non-oscillatory equations?
Even in a linear second order equation like $x''+x'+\epsilon x=0$ the standard asymptotic expansion has a secular term already in the first order of $\epsilon$, namely
$$x(t)=a_0+b_0e^{-t}+\epsilon(...
- 1,731
10
votes
2
answers
350
views
Is this Riccati equation ("Josephson junction") always phase-locked at integer rotation numbers?
Given parameters $(a,k,A) \in \mathbb{R}^3$, we consider on $\mathbb{S}^1$ the $2\pi$-periodic ODE
$$ \dot{\theta} \ = \ - a\sin(\theta) + k + A\cos(t) \hspace{4mm} \mathrm{mod} \ 2\pi. $$
Identifying ...
- 708
7
votes
2
answers
901
views
Is this a new strange attractor?
I recently made some experiments in programming strange attractors, and I found this (very simple) equations, which create a nice strange attractor:
...
- 101
7
votes
2
answers
732
views
A second order nonlinear ODE
In my research (in differential geometry) I recently came across the following nonlinear second order ode:
$$\frac{f''(x)}{f'(x)}-\frac{2}{x}+\frac{f'(x)+1}{2f(x)-x-1}+\frac{f'(x)-1}{2f(x)+x}=0$$
It ...
- 277
7
votes
2
answers
641
views
Canard limit cycle for certain singularly perturbed system (Is there a contradictory situation?)
From the figures of page 478 and 479 of this paper one find that the author probably means that we have a (canard) limit cycle for the system
$$\begin{cases} x'=y-x^2\\ y'=\epsilon(a-x) \...
- 356
7
votes
1
answer
930
views
(In)stability of a two-dimensional dynamical system
Consider the following system of coupled differential equations
\begin{eqnarray*}
\dot{x}_1(t) & = & -x_1(t) - \cos(\omega t)x_1(t) + \cos(\omega t)x_2(t), \ x_1(0)\in\mathbb{R},\\
\dot{x}_2(t)...
- 2,712
7
votes
0
answers
369
views
On the solvability of a nonlinear differential system
A nonlinear formulation of differential Galois theory was discussed here and here for three dimensional nonlinear systems (proof is on pages 6 – 10). For a two dimensional system, the following system ...
- 79
6
votes
1
answer
382
views
Convergence of dynamical system on the sphere
Let $A(x)$ be a symmetric negative semi-definite matrix which depends continuously on the parameter $x\in\mathbb{R}^{d}$. We consider the differential equation
$$\dot{x} = (I-xx^*)A(x)x$$
on the unit ...
- 799
6
votes
1
answer
508
views
Estimating the flow when we know the vector field
Suppose we have a $C^k$ vector field $v$ and let $\phi_t$ be the corresponding flow. I have estimates on $v$ and its derivatives: $|v| < C_0$, $|Dv| < C_1$, $|D^2v| < C_2$, ... $|D^kv| < ...
- 303
5
votes
0
answers
263
views
Is the global solution to this ODE bounded?
Consider
$$\dot{\theta_i}=-\sum_{j=1}^nA_{ij}\sin(\theta_i-\theta_j),\ i\in\{1,2,\cdots,n\}$$
where $A_{ij}$ is adjacency matrix of a connected simple graph, and the vector $\theta=[\theta_1,\cdots,\...
- 405
4
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Limit of a discrete time dynamical system
I have the following discrete time dynamical system
$$ y(t+1) = y(t) + \frac{1}{1+\exp(z+ u f y(t))} ,\quad y(0)=0,$$
where $z$ is a real number $f$ and $u$ are non-negative reals. I know I have ...
- 53
4
votes
1
answer
354
views
Reference request: Invariant sets of dynamical systems
(I should preface this with the disclaimer that this is a slightly elaborated version of a question that I posted onto math se recently to which I received no responses, and have since deleted the ...
- 185
3
votes
1
answer
202
views
Stability of nonsmooth, Lipschitz continuous, autonomous system of differential equations
Consider the following autonomous system of differential equations:
$$\frac{\mathrm d\mathbf x}{\mathrm dt} = \mathbf v(\mathbf x)$$
where $\mathbf x, \mathbf v \in \mathbb R^n$. Assume that $\...
- 884
3
votes
2
answers
264
views
ODE with Holder drift - Cauchy-Peano theorem
Consider the following ODE:
$$
x′(t)=b(x(t)),\quad x(0)=x_0.
$$
If $b$ is bounded and Holder continuous, then the Cauchy-Peano theorem ensures that there exists a solution to the above equation (but ...
- 411
3
votes
1
answer
2k
views
A formula for the Jacobian of a flow
Let $U : \mathbb R^d \to \mathbb R^d$ be a smooth vector field, and let $F_t : \mathbb R \times \mathbb R^d \to \mathbb R^d$ be the corresponding smooth flow, defined by the differential equation $$\...
- 8,512
3
votes
2
answers
361
views
Regularity of a nonlinear ODE [Traveling wave solutions of parabolic systems]
In the book of Volpert on Traveling wave solutions of Parabolic Systems (AMS), one reads "the following assertion is readily proved and we shall not discuss it in detail". The same result is tacitely ...
- 364
3
votes
1
answer
95
views
Inductive proof that $\dot{M}_{n+1}=-M_{n+1}+W^{(n+2)}(0)+vM_{n+2}$
The motivation for the following is to convert the integro-differential equation
\begin{equation}
\kappa\ddot x+\dot x=-kx+\beta\int_{-\infty}^t W'(x(t)-x(s))e^{s-t}ds,
\end{equation}
into a ...
- 79
3
votes
0
answers
183
views
Bounded solutions of nonlinear third-order ODEs
I am interested in understanding the behavior of solutions to certain nonlinear third-order ODEs. Specifically, I am curious about conditions that guarantee all solutions remain bounded for $t \in [0, ...
- 807
3
votes
0
answers
135
views
Motivation for the existence of periodic solutions [closed]
I have been reading the book Critical Point Theory and Hamiltonian System by Mawhin and Willem, as well as several other papers on the existence of periodic solutions for equations of the form
$$\ddot{...
- 41
3
votes
0
answers
1k
views
(Approximate) analytic solutions to the Mathieu equation
I'm trying to solve the driven Mathieu equation
$x''+\beta x'+(a-2q\cos{\Omega t})\frac{\Omega^2}{4}x=f(t)$
for both zero and non-zero $\beta$.
I can write down an analytic solution using the ...
- 31
2
votes
1
answer
158
views
A vector field $X$ on $\mathrm{GL}(n,\mathbb{R})$ with $\begin{cases} X.\mathrm{trace}=\mathrm{Det} \\X.\mathrm{Det}=-\mathrm{trace} \end{cases}$
Is there a vector field $X$ on $\operatorname{M}_n(\mathbb{R})$ or $\operatorname{GL}(n,\mathbb{R})$ with the following condition:
$$\begin{cases} X\cdot \operatorname{trace}=\operatorname{Det} \\X\...
- 356
2
votes
1
answer
160
views
Dynamical system described by coupled nonlinear differential equations
Suppose a dynamical system is described by two variables, $x$ and $y$, and they change over time according to the following two coupled nonlinear differential equations:
\begin{equation}
\begin{split}
...
- 197
2
votes
1
answer
134
views
On local attractivity of a coupled non-linear differential equation
Consider a dynamical system described by the following coupled non-linear differential equation
\begin{align}
\dot{x}_1(t) &= v + a_{12}\sin(x_2(t)-x_1(t)) + a_{13}\sin(x_3(t)-x_1(t))\\
\dot{x}_2(...
- 2,712
2
votes
1
answer
253
views
Differential inequalities for a strictly diagonal dominant system of linear ODEs
Let $A$ be a real $d\times d$ matrix. The diagonal elements are strictly negative ($a_{ii}<0$) and the off-diagonal elements are non-negative ($a_{ij}\geq 0$ for $i\neq j$). $A$ is strictly column ...
- 135
2
votes
1
answer
90
views
Hopf bifurcation for systems where the dynamics is homogeneous of degree 1
Consider dynamical system in dimension 3
$$x'(t)=f(x(t),d)$$
where the dynamics f is homogeneous of degree 1 and there is exactly one
line of equilibrium points. This line is independent of the ...
- 21
2
votes
0
answers
153
views
Stability test for LTV systems by differential Lyapunov inequalities
Consider a linear time-varying system:
\begin{equation}
\dot x(t) = A(t) x(t), \tag{$*$}
\end{equation}
where $A(t)$ is a time-varying block matrix defined as
$$
A(t) =
\begin{bmatrix}
0 & I\\
-\...
- 55
2
votes
0
answers
280
views
Uniqueness of analytic center manifold
In a book, i have read a remark which says that the center manifold of an equilibrium point of a differential equation is not unique in general but is unique in the class of analytic manifold. The ...
- 21
2
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Global Solutions of Ordinary Differential Equations
Background
Let $f: [0, \infty) \times {\mathbb R}^n \rightarrow {\mathbb R}^n$ be a jointly measurable function satisfying,
$f(t, \cdot)$ is locally Lipschitz for every $t \geqslant 0$,
for every ...
- 123
1
vote
2
answers
222
views
Behavior of a non-linear differential equation
Let us consider the following differential equation
$$
\dot{x}(t)=a - b\sin(x(t)), \quad a,b\in\mathbb{R}.
$$
My question. Suppose $a>|b|$ and $x(0)=x_0\in\mathbb{R}$. Can the solution to the ...
- 2,712
1
vote
1
answer
289
views
Center-localized oscillating modes with exponential decay tails, solved from coupled ODE
Two coupled non-linear differential equations in a radial $r$-direction in the region $r \in [0, \infty)$:
$$
-a\big(\partial_r^2+\frac{\partial_r}{r}-\frac{n^2}{r^2}+c\big) U(r)+
B(r) (\partial_r-...
- 10.5k
1
vote
1
answer
92
views
Is this non-linear system of differential equations tractable by other means than numeric approximation and dynamic analysis?
Is there any way to solve the following system of non-linear differential equations exactly?
$x'(t) = x\times(y - \frac{1}{3(t + C)})$
$y'(t) = -\frac{1}{3}x^2 - \frac{y}{t + C}$
Here $x$ and $y$ ...
- 113
1
vote
1
answer
207
views
Number of solutions of a system of equation!
Let $\Theta =(\theta_1,\ldots, \theta_n)\in {\mathbb T}^n$. I want to show that the system of equations
$$
\sum_j 2\sin(\theta_i -\theta_j)+\sin(2\theta_i -2\theta_j) =0,\ \ i=1,\ldots, n,
$$
has ...
1
vote
0
answers
70
views
What *piecewise* smooth curves/surfaces/hypersurfaces give rise to forward-invariant regions of dynamical systems?
Consider a set $\mathcal{B}\subset \mathbb{R}^n$ that is homeomorphic to a closed n-dimensional ball, and denote its boundary by $\mathcal{H}$. Assume that $\mathcal{H}$ is a "piecewise smooth&...
- 111
1
vote
0
answers
77
views
What exactly are the benefits of keeping a Hamiltonian system of equations Hamiltonian during solving or transformation?
When faced with a system of differential equations that happens to be Hamiltonian in form, or a perturbation of a Hamiltonian system, we often see in classical work a clear attempt to pursue solutions ...
- 183
1
vote
0
answers
36
views
Results on: (path/initial condition)-dependent variant of exponential map generates compactly supported diffeomorphisms
Let $M$ be a connected and simply connected Riemannian manifold, non-compact, and suppose that $\{V_p\}_{p \in M}$ is a family of vector fields on $M$ indexed by $M$. Suppose moreover that the map
$$
...
- 5,405
0
votes
2
answers
69
views
Is the right-hand term of the dynamic system equivalent to the original system after being multiplied by a constant?
Given two dynamical systems where $f$ is lipschitz for $x$ : $\begin{cases} x'(t)=af(x,t),\\ x(0)=x_0,\end{cases} t\in[0,\tau]$ and $\begin{cases} z'(t)=f(z,t),\\ z(0)=x_0,\end{cases} t\in[0,\tau']$, ...
- 109
0
votes
1
answer
114
views
Fit a system of linear ODEs from several experiments
Assume we are given several initial vectors $x^{(1)},\ldots,x^{(r)} \in \mathbb{R}^n$, where the dimension $n=6$ (in any event a number below 10) , and the number of initial vectors $r$ is in the ...
- 749
0
votes
1
answer
285
views
Quadratic stability of linear time varying system
(This question was originally asked at Math.SE, where it didn't receive any answers.)
Consider the linear time-varying system
$$ \dot{x} = A(t) x, $$
where $x \in \mathbb{R}^n$ and $A: [0,+\infty) \...
- 1,590
0
votes
0
answers
103
views
Polynomial / quadratic autonomous system of ODEs – proving monotonicity / convexity
Problem:
Consider the autonomous ODE system
\begin{align*}
\dot{x} &= (1-x) (z-xy)\\
\dot{y} &= \tfrac 1 2 y^2 - (a+xy)(1-y) \\
\dot{z} &= \tfrac 1 2 z^2 - \tfrac 1 2 y^2 + (a+xy)z
\end{...
- 291