Heteroclinic cycles in bifurcation problems with \(O(3)\) symmetry and the spherical Bénard problem (Q1920975)

The paper [\textit{D. Armbruster} and \textit{P. Chossat}, Physica D 50, No. 2, 155-176 (1991; Zbl 0739.58036)] shows that robust heteroclinic cycles between equilibria can bifurcate in differential systems invariant relative to the action of the \(O(3)\)-group defined as the sum of irreducible representations of degree 1 and 2. In the present article this result is generalized to the interactions of irreducible representations of degrees \(l\) and \(l+1\) for any \(l>0\). A general classification of heteroclinic cycles with explicit conditions for existence is given. Their asymptotic stability is discussed. As example the spherical Bénard problem with Rayleigh number \(R_a\) and the aspect ratio \(\eta\) (the ratio of the inner to the outer radius of the shell) as bifurcation parameter is considered.