Polynomial normal forms of constrained differential equations with three parameters (Q2451920)

The authors study constrained differential equations, as they appear in the theory of slow-fast systems. It is assumed that the corresponding layer equation is defined by the gradient of a potential. The basic theory of such equations was worked out by \textit{F. Takens} [Lect. Notes Math. 525, 143--234 (1976; Zbl 0386.34003)] whose results are briefly reviewed in Section 4. Before, a very brief introduction into elementary catastrophe theory is given and two motivating examples by Zeeman are discussed. The main part of the article is Section 5. Takens provided a complete classification up to topological equivalence for the case of a potential depending on two parameters. The authors consider now the case of three parameters and derive a complete list of 16 polynomial normal forms. Their approach is based on a desingularisation, the reduction to a center manifold and the use of Takens's normal form theorem.