Shilnikov return map ($z^{\prime }=-\mu +A{z}^{\delta }\cos (\Omega \log z+\Phi )$)

Near a saddle-focus equilibrium, linearized coordinates satisfy $\dot{z}={\lambda }_{+}z$, $\dot{r}={\lambda }_{-}r$ and $\dot{\theta }=\omega$. A trajectory entering at a small positive coordinate $z$ takesto reach a fixed outgoing section. Hence $r_{\mathrm{out}}\propto z^{\delta }$ with $\delta =-{\lambda }_{-}/{\lambda }_{+}$, while the accumulated angle is logarithmic in $z$. Composing this passage with a smooth global return gives the leading scalar formwhere $|\Omega |=|\omega |/{\lambda }_{+}$ and the phase convention absorbs constant angular shifts. The map applies only on branches whose trajectories return to the section.^[ref]

Differentiation givesFor $\delta <1$, the envelope becomes unbounded as $z\downarrow 0$, but the derivative also has infinitely many zeros. The map therefore has strongly expanding branches, rather than uniform expansion everywhere.

The full two-dimensional return has Jacobian determinant of order $z^{2\delta -1}$ in regular section coordinates: radial scaling contributes $z^{\delta -1}$ and conversion of polar coordinates contributes $z^{\delta }$. For $\delta >1/2$ this contracts area near the singular limit, but area contraction alone does not prove that a scalar reduction is valid. A one-passage periodic trajectory has period $T_g+T_{\mathrm{loc}}$, explaining the logarithmically diverging time near the homoclinic connection.

At a saddle-focus homoclinic orbit, the leading Shilnikov return map is $f(x)=A{x}^{\delta }\cos (q\log x+\Phi )$, $x>0$, with $q>0$. If $1/2<\delta <1$, its fixed points solve $\cos (q\log x+\Phi )=x^{1-\delta }/A$. Infinitely many solutions accumulate at zero near the zeros of the cosine, with successive size ratios tending to $e^{-\pi /q}$. The derivative is $A{x}^{\delta -1}[\delta \cos (q\log x+\Phi )-q\sin (q\log x+\Phi )]$, so their expanding multiplier is unbounded. Narrow monotone strips near successive oscillations map across a common interval; inverse branches contract, supplying arbitrarily long symbolic itineraries and infinitely many saddle periodic orbits. Varying the splitting parameter shifts the graph vertically, producing accumulating fold and period-doubling thresholds and stable windows. The condition $\delta >1/2$ makes the local flow volume-contracting, whereas $\delta <1$ makes its saddle value positive.