Geometrical Methods In The Theory Of Ordinary Differential Equations

Since the first edition of this book, geometrical methods in the theory of ordinary differential equations have become very popular and some progress has been made partly with the help of computers. Much of this progress is represented in this revised, expanded edition, including such topics as the Feigenbaum universality of period doubling, the Zoladec solution, the Iljashenko proof, the Ecalle and Voronin theory, the Varchenko and Hovanski theorems, and the Neistadt theory. In the selection of material for this book, the author explains basic ideas and methods applicable to the study of differential equations. Special efforts were made to keep the basic ideas free from excessive technicalities. Thus the most fundamental questions are considered in great detail, while of the more special and difficult parts of the theory have the character of a survey. Consequently, the reader needs only a general mathematical knowledge to easily follow this text. It is directed to mathematicians, as well as all users of the theory of differential equations.

Since 1978, when the first Russian edition of this book appeared, geometrical methods in the theory of ordinary differential equations have become very popular. A lot of computer experiments have been performed and some theorems have been proved. In this edition, this progress is (partially) repre sented by some additions to the first English text. I mention here some of these recent discoveries. I. The Feigenbaum universality of period doubling cascades and its extensions- the renormalization group analysis of bifurcations (Percival, Landford, Sinai, ... ). 2. The Zol~dek solution of the two-parameter bifurcation problem (cases of two imaginary pairs of eigenvalues and of a zero eigenvalue and a pair). 3. The Iljashenko proof of the "Dulac theorem" on the finiteness of the number of limit cycles of polynomial planar vector fields. 4. The Ecalle and Voronin theory of hoi om orphic invariants for formally equivalent dynamical systems at resonances. 5. The Varchenko and Hovanski theorems on the finiteness of the number of limit cycles generated by a polynomial perturbation of a poly nomial Hamiltonian system (the Dulac form of the weakened version of Hilbert's sixteenth problem). 6. The Petrov estimates of the number of zeros of the elliptic integrals responsible for the birth of limit cycles for polynomial perturbations 2 of the Hamiltonian system x = x - I (solution of the weakened sixteenth Hilbert problem for cubic Hamiltonians). 7. The Bachtin theorems on averaging in systems with several frequencies.

Few books on Ordinary Differential Equations (ODEs) have the elegant geometric insight of this one, which puts emphasis on the qualitative and geometric properties of ODEs and their solutions, rather than on routine presentation of algorithms. From the reviews: "Professor Arnold has expanded his classic book to include new material on exponential growth, predator-prey, the pendulum, impulse response, symmetry groups and group actions, perturbation and bifurcation." --SIAM REVIEW

This edition has been completely revised to bring it into line with current teaching, including an expansion of the material on bifurcations and chaos.

Although there is no lack of other books on this subject, even with the same title, the appearance of this new one is fully justified on at least two grounds: its approach makes full use of modern mathematical concepts and terminology of considerable sophistication and abstraction, going well beyond the traditional presentation of the subject; and, at the same time, the resulting enhancement of mathematical abstractness is counterbalanced by a constant appeal to geometrical and physical considerations, presented in the main text and in numerous problems and exercises. In the terms of mathematical approach, the text is dominated by two central ideas: the theorem on rectifiability of a vector field (which is equivalent to the usual theorems on existence, uniqueness, and differentiability of solutions) and the theory of one-parameter groups of linear transformations (equivalent to the theory of linear autonomous systems). The book also develops whole congeries of fundamental concepts--like phase space and phase flows, smooth manifolds and tangent bundles, vector fields and one-parameter groups of diffeomorphisms--that remain in the shadows in the traditional coordinate-based approach. All of these concepts are presented in some detail, but without assuming any background on the part of the reader beyond the scope of the standard elementary courses on analysis and linear algebra.

From the reviews: "The reading is very easy and pleasant for the non-mathematician, which is really noteworthy. The two chapters enunciate the basic principles of the field, ... indicate connections with other fields of mathematics and sketch the motivation behind the various concepts which are introduced.... What is particularly pleasant is the fact that the authors are quite successful in giving to the reader the feeling behind the demonstrations which are sketched. Another point to notice is the existence of an annotated extended bibliography and a very complete index. This really enhances the value of this book and puts it at the level of a particularly interesting reference tool. I thus strongly recommend to buy this very interesting and stimulating book." Journal de Physique

This book deals with numerical methods that preserve properties of Hamiltonian systems, reversible systems, differential equations on manifolds and problems with highly oscillatory solutions. A complete self-contained theory of symplectic and symmetric methods, which include Runge-Kutta, composition, splitting, multistep and various specially designed integrators, is presented and their construction and practical merits are discussed. The long-time behaviour of the numerical solutions is studied using a backward error analysis (modified equations) combined with KAM theory. The book is illustrated by numerous figures, treats applications from physics and astronomy, and contains many numerical experiments and comparisons of different approaches.