A simple global characterization for normal forms of singular vector fields (Q1096220)

We derive a new global characterization of the normal forms of amplitude equations describing the dynamics of competing order parameters in degenerate bifurcation problems. Using an appropriate scalar product in the space of homogeneous vector polynomials, we show that the nonlinearities in the normal form commute with the one parameter Lie group generated by the adjoint of the original critical linear operator. This leads to a very efficient constructive method to compute both the nonlinear coefficients and the unfolding of the normal form. Explicit examples, and results obtained when there are additional symmetries, are also presented. All the examples presented also include the proofs of completeness and minimality of the corresponding normal forms. Recently some of the authors have generalized these techniques to include periodic perturbations [\textit{C. Elphick}, \textit{G. Iooss} and \textit{E. Tirapegui}, Phys. Lett. A 120, 459 (1987)], dynamical systems with Grassmann variables [\textit{C. Elphick}, J. Math. Phys. 28, 1243-1249 (1987), J. Phys. A 20, 4371-4382 (1987)] and to treat Hamiltonian systems [\textit{C. Elphick}, ``Global aspects of Hamiltonian normal forms'', Phys. Lett. A 127, 418-424 (1988)].