Local phenomena in random dynamical systems: bifurcations, synchronisation, and quasi-stationary dynamics

We consider several related topics in the bifurcation theory of random dynamical systems: synchronisation by noise, noise-induced chaos, qualitative changes of finite-time behaviour and stability of systems surviving in a bounded domain. Firstly, we study the dynamics of a two-dimensional ordinary differential equation exhibiting a Hopf bifurcation subject to additive white noise. Depending on the deterministic Hopf bifurcation parameter and a phase-amplitude coupling parameter called shear, three dynamical phases can be identified: a random attractor with uniform synchronisation of trajectories, a random attractor with non-uniform synchronisation of trajectories and a random attractor without synchronisation of trajectories. We prove the existence of the first two phases which both exhibit a random equilibrium with negative top Lyapunov exponent but differ in terms of finite-time and uniform stability properties. We provide numerical results in support of the existence of the third phase which is characterised by a so-called random strange attractor with positive top Lyapunov exponent implying chaotic behaviour. Secondly, we reduce the model of the Hopf bifurcation to its linear components and study the dynamics of a stochastically driven limit cycle on the cylinder. In this case, we can prove the existence of a bifurcation from an attractive random equilibrium to a random strange attractor, indicated by a change of sign of the top Lyapunov exponent. By establishing the existence of a random strange attractor for a model with white noise, we extend results by Qiudong Wang and Lai-Sang Young on periodically kicked limit cycles to the stochastic context. Furthermore, we discuss a characterisation of the invariant measures associated with the random strange attractor and deduce positive measure-theoretic entropy for the random system. Finally, we study the bifurcation behaviour of unbounded noise systems in bounded domains, exhibiting the local character of random bifurcations which are usually hidden in the global analysis. The systems are analysed by being conditioned to trajectories which do not hit the boundary of the domain for asymptotically long times. The notion of a stationary distribution is replaced by the concept of a quasi-stationary distribution and the average limiting behaviour can be described by a so-called quasi-ergodic distribution. Based on the well-explored stochastic analysis of such distributions, we develop a dynamical stability theory for stochastic differential equations within this context. Most notably, we define conditioned average Lyapunov exponents and demonstrate that they measure the typical stability behaviour of surviving trajectories. We analyse typical examples of random bifurcation theory within this environment, in particular the Hopf bifurcation with additive noise, with reference to whom we also study (numerically) a spectrum of conditioned Lyapunov exponents. Furthermore, we discuss relations to dynamical systems with holes.Open Acces

A stochastic variant of replicator dynamics in zero-sum games and its invariant measures

We study the behavior of a stochastic variant of replicator dynamics in two-agent zero-sum games. We characterize the statistics of such systems by their invariant measures which can be shown to be entirely supported on the boundary of the space of mixed strategies. Depending on the noise strength we can furthermore characterize these invariant measures by finding accumulation of mass at specific parts of the boundary. In particular, regardless of the magnitude of noise, we show that any invariant probability measure is a convex combination of Dirac measures on pure strategy profiles, which correspond to vertices/corners of the agents' simplices. Thus, in the presence of stochastic perturbations, even in the most classic zero-sum settings, such as Matching Pennies, we observe a stark disagreement between the axiomatic prediction of Nash equilibrium and the evolutionary emergent behavior derived by an assumption of stochastically adaptive, learning agents

“I just knew that!” : Intuitions as scaffolded or freestanding judgements ; a commentary on Tim Bayne

How reliable are intuitive or introspective judgments? This question has produced lively debates in two respective discussions. In this commentary I will try to show that the two phenomena of introspective and intuitive judgments are very closely related, so that the two separate philosophical debates about them can substantially inform each other. In particular, the intuition debate can profit from conceptual tools that have already been introduced to discussions about the reliability of introspection. Especially the distinction between scaffolded and freestanding judgements, which has been developed by Tim Bayne %26 Maja Spener (2010), can be used to more carefully investigate intuitions with respect to their epistemic reliability. After briefly applying this framework to some paradigm cases of “philosophically interesting” intuitions, I will come to the conclusion that most of these must be regarded as freestanding judgments and thus cannot play the role of reliable sources of evidence that they are supposed to play in some discussions in contemporary epistemology and methodology

Blow-up analysis of fast-slow PDEs with loss of hyperbolicity

We consider a fast-slow partial differential equation (PDE) with reaction-diffusion dynamics in the fast variable and the slow variable driven by a differential operator on a bounded domain. Assuming a transcritical normal form for the reaction term and viewing the slow variable as a dynamic bifurcation parameter, we analyze the passage through the fast subsystem bifurcation point. In particular, we employ a spectral Galerkin approximation and characterize the invariant manifolds for the finite-dimensional Galerkin approximation for each finite truncation using geometric desingularization via a blow-up analysis. In addition to the crucial approximation procedure, a key step is to make the domain dynamic as well during the blow-up analysis. Finally, we prove that our results extend to the infinite-dimensional problem, showing the convergence of the finite-dimensional manifolds to infinite-dimensional Banach manifolds for different parameter regimes near the bifurcation point. Within our analysis, we find that the PDEs appearing in entry and exit blow-up charts are quasi-linear free boundary value problems, while in the central/scaling chart we obtain a PDE, which is often encountered in classical reaction-diffusion problems exhibiting solutions with finite-time singularities. In summary, we establish a first full case of a geometric blow-up analysis for fast-slow PDEs with a non-hyperbolic point. Our methodological approach has the potential to deal with the loss of hyperbolicity for a wide variety of infinite-dimensional dynamical systems

Positive Lyapunov Exponent in the Hopf Normal Form with Additive Noise

We prove the positivity of Lyapunov exponents for the normal form of a Hopf bifurcation, perturbed by additive white noise, under sufficiently strong shear strength. This completes a series of related results for simplified situations which we can exploit by studying suitable limits of the shear and noise parameters. The crucial technical ingredient for making this approach rigorous is a result on the continuity of Lyapunov exponents via Furstenberg Khasminskii formulas.Comment: 35 page

Canards in modified equations for Euler discretizations

Canards are a well-studied phenomenon in fast-slow ordinary differential equations implying the delayed loss of stability after the slow passage through a singularity. Recent studies have shown that the corresponding maps stemming from explicit Runge-Kutta discretizations, in particular the forward Euler scheme, exhibit significant distinctions to the continuous-time behavior: for folds, the delay in loss of stability is typically shortened whereas, for transcritical singularities, it is arbitrarily prolonged. We employ the method of modified equations, which correspond with the fixed discretization schemes up to higher order, to understand and quantify these effects directly from a fast-slow ODE, yielding consistent results with the discrete-time behavior and opening a new perspective on the wide range of (de-)stabilization phenomena along canards