Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2020 / ii / Paper 1 / 32E / ii

Suppose $a<0$. Near the pitchfork at $(\mu ,x)=(a,0)$, put $\lambda =\mu -a$. Keeping the lowest terms that distinguish the branches givesSince $-2a>0$, this is the pitchfork bifurcation normal form: the zero branch changes from stable to unstable and the stable branches $x=\pm \sqrt{\lambda }$ appear for $\lambda >0$.

Near $(\mu ,x)=(0,0)$, put $\lambda =\mu$. ThenHere $-a>0$, so for $\lambda >0$ the zero branch is stable and the two nearby nonzero branches are unstable. This confirms the parameter-reversed subcritical pitchfork bifurcation.

Finally fix either $x_0=\pm \sqrt{-2a}$ and putThe two vanishing factors have the leading expansionsWith the parameter-dependent coordinate $w=2x_{0}u-m$,This is the transcritical bifurcation normal form: the branches $w=0$ and $w=m$ cross and exchange stability.