Heteroclinic cycles arising in generic unfoldings of nilpotent singularities (Q657759)

It is well known that homoclinic orbits to equilibrium points with complex eigenvalues are the simplest configuration which can explain the existence of complex dynamics as, for instance, strange attractors. Since singularities are the simplest elements found in phase portraits of vector fields, the proof of the arising of chaotic dynamics from a singularity is very important, especially for applications. The paper is devoted to the study of the existence of heteroclinic cycles in generic unfoldings of nilpotent singularities. Namely, it is shown that any nilpotent singularity of codimension four in \(\mathbb R^4\) unfolds generically a bifurcation hypersurface of bifocal homoclinic orbits, that is, homoclinic orbits to equilibrium points with two pairs of complex eigenvalues. Theorem B. In every generic unfolding of a four-dimensional nilpotent singularity of codimension four there is a bifurcation hypersurface of homoclinic orbits to equilibrium points with two pairs of eigenvalues \(\rho_k\pm\omega_ki\), \(k=1,2\), such that \(\rho_1<0<\rho_2\). It is also shown that any nilpotent singularity of codimension three in \(\mathbb R^3\) unfolds generically a bifurcation curve of heteroclinic cycles between two saddle-focus equilibrium points with different stability indices. Theorem C. In every generic unfolding of a three-dimensional nilpotent singularity of codimension three there is a bifurcation curve of topological Bykov cycles. Under generic assumptions these cycles imply the existence of homoclinic bifurcations.