Equivariant branching lemma

For an absolutely irreducible real symmetry representation, an equivariant steady-state bifurcation with a simple transverse crossing of the scalar linear eigenvalue generically has an equilibrium branch for each axial isotropy type. Restricting the vector field to its one-dimensional fixed-point subspace reduces the existence problem to a scalar bifurcation equation. The lemma guarantees these branches; it does not exclude branches with smaller isotropy or higher-dimensional fixed-point subspaces.

The normalizer of an axial isotropy subgroup preserves its one-dimensional fixed-point subspace of a group action. If its quotient by the isotropy contains an element acting as minus one, the reduced scalar vector field is odd, forcing a pitchfork bifurcation rather than a generic quadratic branch. For odd dihedral groups the reflection normalizer has no such quotient; an even-degree anisotropic term can distinguish the two half-axes at higher order.

// Target: algebra.bigb

For the natural plane action of the dihedral group, rotations constrain monomial weights and reflection makes coefficients real. The reflection axes support the bifurcating equilibria. For $n=3$, the quadratic anisotropic term gives three transcritical-like branches that are saddles in the full plane. For $n=4$, cubic isotropic and anisotropic terms determine two reflection-isotropy classes. For $n=5$, the cubic isotropic term sets the leading radial amplitude while quartic anisotropy separates stable and saddle angular classes.

// Target: dynamical-systems.bigb

Independent sign changes and interchange of two coordinates in the natural dihedral group action force the displayed cubic normal form. Apart from the origin, its nondegenerate small equilibria lie on coordinate axes or on the diagonals. An axial branch has squared amplitude $\mu /a$ and eigenvalues $-2\mu ,\mu (1-b/a)$. A diagonal branch has component squared amplitude $\mu /(a+b)$ and eigenvalues $-2\mu ,2\mu (b-a)/(a+b)$. Subtracting the two nonzero equilibrium equations gives $(a-b)(A^2-B^2)=0$, excluding other cubic branches when $a\ne b$.

For the four wavevectors $(2,1),(2,-1),(1,2),(1,-2)$ and their negatives, use invariant phases ${\chi }_1=2{\theta }_1-2{\theta }_2-{\theta }_3+{\theta }_4$, ${\chi }_2={\theta }_1+{\theta }_2-2{\theta }_3-2{\theta }_4$. Add to the cubic normal form of a dynamical system the two quintic terms $e{\overline{A}}_2{A}_3^2{A}_4^2$ and $f{\overline{A}}_1{A}_2^2{A}_3{\overline{A}}_4$ in the first equation, together with their square-symmetry partners; $e,f$ are real. For equal positive magnitudes, steadiness forces $\sin {\chi }_1=\sin {\chi }_2=0$ unless $e=f=0$. Equality of radial equations further gives $(e-f)(\cos {\chi }_1-\cos {\chi }_2)=0$. Consequently the generic phase types are $(0,0)$ and $(\pi ,\pi )$. When $e=f\ne 0$, the mixed type $(0,\pi )$, equivalent by square symmetry to $(\pi ,0)$, also exists. When both quintic coefficients vanish, every phase pair is allowed. Amplitude existence must still be checked from the remaining scalar equation.

A scalar mode that changes sign under a quarter-turn and is fixed by diagonal reflections couples quadratically through $AC,BC,A^2-B^2$. In the saturated three-mode equivariant dynamical system, a diagonal state $A=B=s$, $C=0$ has $s^2={\mu }_1/(1+\lambda )$ and $p=2(\lambda -1)s^2$. The symmetric perturbation decays at rate $2{\mu }_1$; the remaining stability matrix is the displayed block. With $K=2{\alpha }_1{\gamma }_1/(\lambda -1)>0$, its linear stability interval is $-K<{\mu }_2<-p$, provided $p<K$. The endpoints are a symmetry-breaking pitchfork bifurcation and a Hopf bifurcation, respectively, away from degeneracies.