No label defined (Q4463906)

The authors consider a family \(H_{\mu}\) of Hamiltonian systems on a 4-dimensional symplectic manifold. The main assumptions are that \(H_0\) is integrable and possesses a homoclinic orbit asymptotic to a saddle-center equilibrium, i.e., a stationary point for which the linearization has a pair of purely imaginary and a pair of nonzero real eigenvalues. Although this homoclinic orbit does in general not persist for \(\mu\neq 0\) it is shown that for \(\mu\neq 0\) sufficiently small there exist homoclinic orbits which are asymptotic to small periodic solutions in the center manifold. These homoclinic orbits are found by studying local and global return maps via Poincaré sections. The integrability of \(H_0\) is a crucial assumption to get via KAM theory the existence of an invariant circle in the return map along the primary homoclinic orbit. This in turn allows one to define suitable regions on which the return map can be studied to find the homoclinic orbits. By well-known theorems a transverse intersection of the stable and unstable manifolds of a periodic orbit then implies the occurence of Smale horseshoes and shift dynamics. For the entire collection see [Zbl 1029.00027].