3-dimensional Hopf bifurcation via averaging theory (Q2372659)

A class of 1-parameter families of quadratic 3-dimensional autonomous systems is reduced to the plane periodic case by introduction of cylinder coordinates. An application of an improvement upon results by J. A. Sanders and F. Verhulst which rely on averaging and Brouwer degree theory, leads to a general theorem on Hopf bifurcation that includes rather precise statements on stability properties of the limit cycles arising. This theorem is displayed as useful in the special cases of the Lorenz system and the Rössler system.