Bifurcation and chaos in discontinuous and continuous systems (Q625609)

The purpose of this monograph, which is a continuation of the author's recent book [Topological degree approach to bifurcation problems. Dordrecht: Springer (2008; Zbl 1153.37028)], is to present a ``comprehensive bifurcation theory of chaos in nonlinear dynamical systems with applications to mechanics and vibrations''. The selection of the material reflects personal preferences of the author, many sections are based on the results obtained by the author and his collaborators. The monograph consists of seven chapters. Chapter 1 briefly introduces the reader to chaos by discussing two simple chaotic mechanical models -- a periodically forced and damped Duffing equation and a damped and forced pendulum. Definitions and important results from functional analysis, topology, dynamical systems and the theory of smooth maps required for the understanding of the material are collected in Chapter 2. Chapters 3--6 constitute the core of the book and deal, respectively, with chaos in discrete dynamical systems, ordinary differential equations, partial differential equations, and discontinuous differential equations. The principal tools of investigation are the exponential dichotomy and the Lyapunov-Schmidt method for solving nonlinear equations in cases where the implicit function theorem cannot be applied. Taking into account that bifurcation conditions for the existence of chaos are expressed in this book as simple zeros of corresponding Melnikov functions, properties of the general Melnikov function are studied in the final Chapter 7 by computing its Fourier coefficients. Transverse homoclinic cycles and blue sky catastrophes are also discussed here. Each chapter concludes with a list of references; a detailed index can be found at the end of the book. The monograph will attract the interest of researchers working with continuous and discontinuous dynamical systems and in related areas, as well as specialists interested in applied problems where nonlinear oscillations, bifurcations, and chaos occur.