Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2008 / iii / Paper 78 / 1 / b / Solution

With the stated time rescaling, $\dot{x}={\epsilon }^3{u}^{\prime }$ and $\ddot{x}={\epsilon }^4{u}^{\prime \prime }$, where primes refer to $\tilde{t}$. Dividing by ${\epsilon }^4$ givesAt $\epsilon =0$, put $v=u^{\prime }$ and define the HamiltonianIts orbital derivative is $H^{\prime }=v(u^2-\kappa )+(\kappa -u^2)v=0$, so this is a conserved quantity. The Hamiltonian system has $u^{\prime }=H_v=v$, $v^{\prime }=-H_u=u^2-\kappa$.

For $\kappa >0$, set $s=\sqrt{\kappa }$. The potential $U(u)=\kappa u-u^3/3$ has a minimum at $-s$ and a maximum at $s$. The corresponding center equilibrium and saddle equilibrium have energies $H_c=-2s^3/3$ and $H_s=2s^3/3$. Levels $H_c<H<H_s$ contain closed ovals around $(-s,0)$, as well as separate unbounded components on the right. At $H=H_s$, the center's ovals limit to a homoclinic orbit to the saddle, turning at $u=-2s$. Its equation isThe same energy also has external unbounded saddle separatrices for $u>s$. Levels above $H_s$ pass over the potential barrier and are open. Along the upper halves $u^{\prime }=v>0$, so the closed loops are traversed clockwise. If $\kappa =0$, the two critical points coalesce into a degenerate equilibrium; if $\kappa <0$, the potential is strictly decreasing and there is no center or homoclinic loop.