Hamiltonian and Lagrangian flows on center manifolds with applications to elliptic variational problems (Q1189379)

Whenever a nonlinear system contains equilibrium or periodic solutions which are near the threshold of stability, a very significant reduction is often possible to a lower-dimensional subsystem which contains a few critical modes only. In such a procedure Lyapunov-Schmidt or center manifold reduction techniques play a part; the emphasis here is on the latter. The first part of the book describes the setting of Hamiltonian and Lagrangian theory involving flows on center manifolds, the part played by symmetries and non-autonomous systems. The second part consists of an impressive selection of applications: elliptic variational problems on cylindrical domains, capillarity surface waves, necking of strips and Saint-Venant's problem. The author runs into the usual dilemma of using explicit coordinate charts or coordinate free analysis but he saves the day by being not too principled. This is a lucidly written text, suitable for fundamental researchers in applied mathematics, pure mathematicians who want to keep in touch with useful things, and PhD-students in analysis.