Local geometry of constitutive sets (Q1090999)

Let X be a configurational manifold of some dynamic system, \(K\subset X\) be a semialgebraic subset (constraint), appropriately stratified. The constitutive set of a system is the set of points in the cotangent bundle \(T^{*X}\) defining certain ''external forces'' under which the system will remain in equilibrium. The author considers some examples of constitutive sets and introduces a reduction procedure in the category of general constitutive sets. A classification of the simplest singularities of the general constitutive sets is presented. In the context of symmetric smooth constitutive sets, the corresponding infinitesimal stability properties are studied. The problem of phase transitions in a uniaxial ferromagnet is presented as an illustration of this approach.