Invariant manifolds in a reversible Hamiltonian system: the tentacle-like geometry

Abstract

We study a one-parameter family of time-reversible Hamiltonian vector fields in $\mathbb{R}^4$, which has received great attention in the literature. On the one hand, it is due to the role it plays in the context of certain applications in the field of Physics or Engineering and, on the other hand, we especially highlight its relevance within the framework of generic unfoldings of the four-dimensional nilpotent singularity of codimension four. The system exhibits a bifocal equilibrium point for a range of parameter values. The associated two-dimensional invariant manifolds, stable and unstable, fold into the phase space in such a way that they produce intricate patterns. This entangled geometry has previously been called \textit{tentacular geometry}. We consider a three-dimensional level set containing the bifocal equilibrium point to gain insight into the folding behavior of these invariant manifolds. Our method consists of describing the traces left by invariant manifolds when crossing an invariant cross section by the reversibility map. With this new approach, we provide a better understanding of how tentacular geometry evolves with respect to the parameter. Our techniques enables us to link the tentacular geometry on the cross section with the study of cocooning cascades of homoclinic tangencies. Indeed, we present a general theory to extend to $\mathbb{R}^4$ the phenomena related to cocoon bifurcation that classically develop within families of three-dimensional reversible vector fields. On the basis of these results, we conjecture the existence of heteroclinic cycles consisting of two orbits connecting the bifocus with a saddle node periodic orbit.