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I am trying to assess the (Liapunov) stability of the equilibrium at $(0,0)$ of the system \begin{align*} x_1' &= -4x_2 + x_1^2 \\ x_2' &= 4x_1 + x_2^2. \end{align*} I plotted the phase portrait in Mathematica, and it looks like a stable (but not asymptotically stable) equilibrium, with orbits circling about the origin. However, my professor tells me the origin is actually unstable. I don't know how to prove or disprove this rigorously. The equilibrium is non-hyperbolic, and I haven't been able to find a Liapunov function for the system. Any guidance would be appreciated.

Edit: I tried polar coordinates: I get $$ r' = \frac1r(x_1x_1' + x_2x_2') = r^2(\cos^3 \theta + \sin^3 \theta)$$ and $$ \theta' = \frac{x_1x_2'-x_1'x_2}{r^2} = 4 + r\cos\theta\sin\theta(\sin\theta-\cos\theta).$$ So there's a half-plane where $r$ is increasing and a half-plane where it's decreasing. The angle $\theta$ is increasing in a neighborhood of the origin. Is it reasonable to say that since $$ 0 = \int_{\theta_0}^{\theta_0 + 2\pi} \cos^3 \theta + \sin^3 \theta d\theta = \int_{\theta_0}^{\theta_0 + 2\pi} \frac{r'}{r^2} d\theta = \int_{\theta_0}^{\theta_0 + 2\pi} \left(\frac{1}{r}\right)' d\theta, $$ that the orbits are in fact periodic?

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  • $\begingroup$ I tried polar coordinates; I can find that $\theta'$ is positive and $r' = r^2(\sin^3 \theta + \cos^3 \theta)$, but I don't see that this helps much. $\endgroup$
    – ec92
    Oct 31, 2013 at 17:59
  • $\begingroup$ @ec92 Your last line of reasoning cannot be used, since the angle is changing with non-constant speed ($\dot \theta\neq 1$). $\endgroup$
    – Artem
    Nov 1, 2013 at 17:44
  • $\begingroup$ @ec92 Any luck or some other hints from your instructor? I spent some time on this problem and have some reasons to believe that it is the center, but no definite proof. It would be nice to see it if you have any. $\endgroup$
    – Artem
    Nov 7, 2013 at 15:34
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    $\begingroup$ @Artem You're correct; the professor was mistaken. I was able to use the symmetry of the system to prove this. I rotated my coordinates 45 degrees, setting $\tilde{x_1} = 1/\sqrt{2}(x_1 -x_2)$ and $\tilde{x_2} = 1/\sqrt{2}(x_1+x_2)$. The transformed system is invariant under $(t,\tilde{x_2}) \mapsto (-t,-\tilde{x_2})$, (or maybe the same transformation with $\tilde{x_1}$ in place of $\tilde{x_2}$; I don't remember for certain). There's a theorem (e.g. 2.10.6 in Perko's text) that says if such symmetry exists, the origin remains a center for the nonlinear system. $\endgroup$
    – ec92
    Nov 8, 2013 at 22:18
  • $\begingroup$ @ec92 Thanks. That's really cool, you should post your solution and accept it. I calculated first Lyapunov coefficient and found that it is zero. This is a very strong indication that the point is the center but not the proof. $\endgroup$
    – Artem
    Nov 8, 2013 at 22:22

3 Answers 3

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Dynamical system

$$ % \begin{align} % \dot{x} &= -4y + x^{2} \\ % \dot{y} &= 4x + y^{2} % \end{align} % $$

The sole critical point is the origin.

Phase portrait

The nullclines are the dashed lines. Red for $\dot{x} = 0$, purple for $\dot{y} = 0$.

flow

Analysis

Polar coordinate transformation produces $$ \dot{r} = r^{2} \left( \cos^{3} \theta + \sin^{3} \theta \right) $$ The plot following shows $$ f(\theta) = \cos^{3} \theta + \sin^{3} \theta $$

theta

The red zone shows contraction where $\color{red}{\dot{r} < 0}$, and the blue zone dilation, $\color{blue}{\dot{r} > 0}$

two face

Notice that as we approach the origin, the dynamical system $$ % \begin{align} % \dot{x} &= -4y + x^{2} \qquad \Rightarrow \qquad -4y\\ % \dot{y} &= 4x + y^{2} \qquad \Rightarrow \qquad 4x % \end{align} % $$ approaches a periodic system.

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  • $\begingroup$ How did you make these pictures? $\endgroup$
    – lhf
    May 13, 2017 at 1:12
  • $\begingroup$ @lhf: Mathematica. Very simple. Happy to share code. Profile contains email address. $\endgroup$
    – dantopa
    May 13, 2017 at 1:31
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    $\begingroup$ Thanks. Consider publishing the code somewhere, github for instace. $\endgroup$
    – lhf
    May 13, 2017 at 1:34
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This is not really an answer to the question. But I think that it can be useful for answering it.

If we divide the differential equations we obtain:

$$\dfrac{dx_2}{dx_1}=\dfrac{4x_1+x_2^2}{-4x_2+x_1^2}$$

In order to simplify notation I will replace $x_1 \to t$ and $x_2 \to x$

$$\dfrac{dx}{dt}=\dfrac{4t+x^2}{-4x+t^2}$$.

This differential equation does have a symmetry, with an infinitesimal generator $$X = \dfrac{t-x-4}{t^2-4x}\partial_{x}.$$

By using this symmetry we can use the method of canonical coordinates to obtain the substitution:

$$t(r,s) = r$$ $$x(r,s)=r-4+\exp\left[W\left(-0.25(r^2-4r+16)\exp(0.25s(r)) \right)-0.25s(r) \right],$$

in which $W$ is the Lambert-$W$-Function.

Using this set of substitutions for the differential equation will result in

$$\dfrac{ds(r)}{dr}=1\implies s(r) = r+c_1=t+c_1$$

and

$$x(t)=t-4+\exp\left[W\left(-0.25(t^2-4t+16)\exp(0.25(t+c_1) \right)-0.25(t-c_1) \right].$$

Turning this back into the original coordinates we obtain:

$$x_2=x_1-4+\exp\left[W\left(-0.25(x_1^2-4x_1+16)\exp(0.25(x_1+c_1) \right)-0.25(x_1-c_1) \right]$$

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Solving

$$ \frac{dx_2}{dx_1}=\frac{4x_1+x_2^2}{-4x_2-x_1^2} $$

according to MATHEMATICA we get

$$ 36 c_1 \left(x_1-x_2\right)-4 \left(36 c_1+2^{2/3} x_2\right)+2^{2/3} x_1 \left(x_2+4\right)+ 2^{2/3+2} \left(4-x_1+x_2\right) \ln \left(\left(x_1-4\right) x_1+16\right)+2^{2/3+3} \left(x_1-x_2-4\right) \tanh ^{-1}\left(\frac{\left(x_1-8\right) x_1+4 \left(x_2+8\right)}{x_1^2-4 x_2}\right)=0 $$

and we can obtain a level set partition as shown in the following plot

enter image description here

typical of a conservative system.

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