Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2001 iii Paper 54 1 a Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
Let denote the four critical wavevectors, and write . A spatial translation by acts on the amplitudes asThe two independent translation directions in phase space are and . Their common orthogonal complement is spanned by and . Hence translation invariants of Fourier-mode phases can be chosen asAway from zero amplitudes, a translation-invariant function of the phases is a function of these two invariant angles. The four magnitudes are themselves invariant. Thus an equivariant dynamical system on the eight-real-dimensional centre manifold descends, after quotienting translation symmetry, to four magnitude equations and two invariant-phase equations. The phase coordinates are singular where an amplitude vanishes; the original complex-amplitude equations remain smooth there.
The wavevector selection rule for equivariant monomials proves the cubic regularity. For a monomial in the first equation, put . Translation covariance requiresAt total degree , additionally and is even. Conversely, any integer vector satisfying these conditions yields a monomial, with any remaining even degree supplied by factors . This makes the degree test exhaustive. For example, eliminate the first two entries:Checking the integer pairs , retaining only integral with the norm and parity conditions, givesAt degree three the only possibility is therefore , . Square symmetry gives the same conclusion for every other equation. All cubic terms are regular.
Two generators of the square dihedral group act as follows. Reflection in the axis gives , while interchange of gives . Rotation by conjugates every amplitude, forcing the coefficients in a steady normal form of a dynamical system to be real. With real unfolding parameter and real coefficients , defineThe most general cubic normal form is . There are no further coefficient identifications: the square-group stabilizer of one of these oblique wavevectors is trivial, so its three couplings to the other magnitudes are independent. At cubic order and all phases, including , are constant.