The existence of trajectories joining critical points (Q579494)

In this paper, by using the notion of isolating block and the concept of canonical region, the author proves the following results: Theorem 1. If the system (*) \(dx/dt=X(x,y)\), \(dy/dt=Y(x,y)\) admits an isolating block B such that: (i) there are precisely two critical points in B, one of which is a repeller; (ii) there are no closed and singular closed orbits in B, then there exists a trajectory in B going from the repeller to the other critical point. Theorem 2. If (*) admits a simply connected isolating block B such that: (i) there are precisely two critical points in B, one of which is a repeller; (ii) there is a continuously differentiable function \(\mu\) (x,y) such that \((\partial /\partial x)(\mu X)+(\partial /\partial y)(\mu Y)\) does not change sign in B, moreover, it does not vanish identically in any subregion of B, then there exists a trajectory in B going from the repeller to the other critical point. Theorem 3. Let (*) admit an isolating block B such that it contains precisely two critical points \(0_ 1\) and \(0_ 2\), where \(0_ 1\) is a repeller. Suppose there is a trajectory going from \(0_ 1\) to any other critical point. Then there exists a trajectory in B going from \(0_ 1\) to \(0_ 2\). Theorem 4. Let (*) admit an isolating block B such that it contains precisely two critical points \(0_ 1\) and \(0_ 2\), where \(0_ 1\) is a repeller. Suppose there is a trajectory going from \(0_ 1\) to infinity. Then there exists a trajectory in B going from \(0_ 1\) to \(0_ 2\). Theorems 1 and 4 were applied to the quadratic system \[ \frac{dx}{dt}=-ay-bx+bx^ 2,\quad \frac{dy}{dt}=-by+ax-ax^ 2,\quad ab\neq 0 \] studied by \textit{P. Gordon} in SIAM J. Appl. Math. 26, 35-102 (1974; Zbl 0244.34034) to show that there exists a trajectory connecting the two critical points (0,0) and (1,0).