Zombies: a simple discrete model of the apocalypse

A simple discrete-time two-dimensional dynamical system is constructed and analyzed numerically, with modelling motivations drawn from the zombie virus of popular horror fiction, and with suggestions for further exercises or extensions suitable for an introductory undergraduate course

Zombies: a simple discrete model of the apocalypse

A simple discrete-time two-dimensional dynamical system is constructed and analyzed numerically, with modelling motivations drawn from the zombie virus of popular horror fiction, and with suggestions for further exercises or extensions suitable for an introductory undergraduate course

Codimension-Two Bifurcations of Fixed Points in a Class of Discrete Prey-Predator Systems

The dynamic behaviour of a Lotka-Volterra system, described by a planar map, is analytically and numerically investigated. We derive analytical conditions for stability and bifurcation of the fixed points of the system and compute analytically the normal form coefficients for the codimension 1 bifurcation points (flip and Neimark-Sacker), and so establish sub- or supercriticality of these bifurcation points. Furthermore, by using numerical continuation methods, we compute bifurcation curves of fixed points and cycles with periods up to 16 under variation of one and two parameters, and compute all codimension 1 and codimension 2 bifurcations on the corresponding curves. For the bifurcation points, we compute the corresponding normal form coefficients. These quantities enable us to compute curves of codimension 1 bifurcations that branch off from the detected codimension 2 bifurcation points. These curves form stability boundaries of various types of cycles which emerge around codimension 1 and 2 bifurcation points. Numerical simulations confirm our results and reveal further complex dynamical behaviours

Numerical methods for two-parameter local bifurcation analysis of maps

We discuss new and improved algorithms for the bifurcation analysis of fixed points and periodic orbits (cycles) of maps and their implementation in matcont, a MATLAB toolbox for continuation and bifurcation analysis of dynamical systems. This includes the numerical continuation of fixed points of iterates of the map with one control parameter, detecting and locating their bifurcation points (i.e., limit point, period-doubling, and Neimark–Sacker) and their continuation in two control parameters, as well as detection and location of all codimension 2 bifurcation points on the corresponding curves. For all bifurcations of codim 1 and 2, the critical normal form coefficients are computed, both numerically with finite directional differences and using symbolic derivatives of the original map. Using a parameter-dependent center manifold reduction, explicit asymptotics are derived for bifurcation curves of double and quadruple period cycles rooted at codim 2 points of cycles with arbitrary period. These asymptotics are implemented into the software and allow one to switch at codim 2 points to the continuation of the double and quadruple period bifurcations. We provide two examples illustrating the developed techniques: a generalized Hénon map and a juvenile/adult competition model from mathematical biology

BIFURCATION ANALYSIS OF PERIODIC ORBITS OF MAPS IN MATLAB

Abstract. We discuss new and improved algorithms for the bifurcation analysis of fixed points and periodic orbits (cycles) of maps and their implementation in matcont, a matlab toolbox for continuation and bifurcation analysis of dynamical systems. This includes the numerical continuation of fixed points of iterates of the map with one control parameter, detecting and locating their bifurcation points (i.e., LP, PD and NS), and their continuation in two control parameters, as well as detection and location of all codimension 2 bifurcation points on the corresponding curves. For all bifurcations of codim 1 and 2, the critical normal form coefficients are computed, both numerically with finite directional differences and using symbolic derivatives of the original map. Using a parameter-dependent center manifold reduction, explicit asymptotics are derived for bifurcation curves of double and quadruple period cycles rooted at codim 2 points of cycles with arbitrary period. These asymptotics are implemented into the software and allow one to switch at codim 2 points to the continuation of the double and quadruple period bifurcations. We provide several examples, in particular a juvenile/adult Leslie–Gower competition model from mathematical biology. Key words. bifurcations of fixed points, cycles, normal forms, branch switchin

Numerical continuation of connecting orbits of maps in MATLAB

We present new or improved methods to continue heteroclinic and homoclinic orbits to fixed points in iterated maps and to compute their fold bifurcation curves, corresponding to the tangency of the invariant manifolds. The proposed methods are applicable to general n-dimensional maps and are implemented in matlab. They are based on the continuation of invariant subspaces (CIS) algorithm, which is presented in a novel way. The systems of defining equations include the Riccati equations appearing in CIS for bases of the generalized stable and unstable eigenspaces. We use the bordering techniques to continue the folds, and provide full algorithmic details on how to treat the Jacobian matrix of the defining system as a sparse matrix in matlab. For a special - but important in applications - case n = 2 we describe the first matlab implementation of known algorithms to grow one-dimensional stable and unstable manifolds of the fixed points of noninvertible maps. The methods are applied to study heteroclinic and homoclinic connections in the generalized Hénon map