The calculation of periodic trajectories (Q1106523)

Methods are presented for calculating classical periodic trajectories in a two-dimensional non-integrable potential problem. The main one is the monodromy method, which consists in refining an approximate solution by using a ``once-around-the-trajectory'' procedure. This can be done either for a given period or for a given energy. Other methods proceed by searching under the initial conditions until the trajectory closes. We also discuss how to find new periodic families, particularly branchings from already known families, and how to get started when no families are known.