Smoothness of transition maps in singular perturbation problems with one fast variable

Abstract

This paper deals with the smoothness of the transition map between two sections transverse to the fast flow of a singularly perturbed vector field (one fast, multiple slow directions). Orbits connecting both sections are canard orbits, i.e. they first move rapidly towards the attracting part of a critical surface, then travel a distance near this critical surface, even beyond the point where the orbit enters the repelling part of the critical surface, and finally repel away from the surface. We prove that the transition map is smooth. In a transcritical situation however, where orbits from an attracting part of one critical manifold follow the repelling part of another critical manifold, the smoothness of the transition map may be limited, due to resonance phenomena that are revealed by blowing up the turning point! We present a polynomial example in R 3 .