A topological approach to the problem of chaotic tides (Q2171214)

In this paper, the authors prove the existence of subharmonic solutions and chaotic dynamics for a Duffing-type differential equation motivated by a model in oceanography for the problem of forced tides. More precisely, the model under investigation concerns the dynamics of water in basins connected to the sea by a narrow strait. It gives rise to a second order equation of the type \[ v'' + \zeta(v) = p(t) + q(t,v'), \] where the unknown function \(v(t)\) is the excess volume at time \(t\), \(\zeta\) is a nonlinear function representing the surface elevation within the basin, \(p\) is an external forcing and \(q\) is a perturbation term (including friction effects). The nonlinear function \(\zeta\) depends on the shape of the basin and can be explicitly determined by assuming some specific geometric conditions; here, following previous references it is assumed that \[ \zeta(v) = \sqrt{2v+1}-1, \quad v \geq -\frac{1}{2}. \] In this setting, a detailed study of the autonomous case \(p=q\equiv 0\) is first performed: in particular, it is proved, using the celebrated Chicone's theorem, that the associated time-map is a strictly decreasing function. Then, the forced problem with \(p\) a periodic stepwise function is considered: using the theory of topological horseshoes in the setting of linked twist maps, the main result about the existence of chaotic dynamics is proved.