Numerical computation of connecting orbits on a manifold

Abstract

In this paper we propose a numerical method for approximating connecting orbits on a manifold and its bifurcation parameters. First we extend the standard nondegeneracy condition to the connecting orbits on a manifold. Then we construct a well-posed system such that the nondegenerate connecting orbit pair on a manifold is its regular solution. We use a difference method to discretize the ODE part in this well-posed system and we find that the numerical solutions still remain on the same manifold. We also set up a modified projection boundary condition to truncate connecting orbits on a manifold onto a finite interval. Then we prove the existence of truncated approximate connecting orbit pairs and derive error estimates. Finally, we carry out some numerical experiments to illustrate the theoretical estimates.