Bifurcations in a parametrically excited nonlinear oscillator (Q1085644)

A nonlinear parametrically excited oscillator, that includes van der Pol as well as Duffing type nonlinearities, is studied for its small nonlinear motions using the method of averaging. The averaged equations, which form a dynamical system on the plane and depend on the linear damping and the detuning, are analyzed for their constant and periodic solutions. Bendixson's criterion is used to deduce the existence and the non- existence of limit cycle solutions for various values of the parameters. Then, using local bifurcation theory for ''saddle-node'', pitchfork and Hopf bifurcations and some results from one and two parameter unfoldings of degenerate singularities, a partial bifurcation set is constructed. Since constant and periodic solutions of the averaged system correspond, respectively, to the periodic solutions and almost periodic or amplitude modulated motions of the original oscillator, the bifurcation set indicates some ways in which periodic solutions can become ''entrained'' or can break the entrainment for almost periodic oscillations.