Families of Liapunov Functions for Nonlinear Systems in Critical Cases

Abstract

Liapunov functions are constructed for nonlinear systems of ordinary differential equations whose linearized system at an equilibrium point possesses either a simple zero eigenvalue or a complex conjugate pair of simple, pure emaginary eigenvalues. The construction is explicit, and yields parametrized families of Liapunov functions for such systems. In the case of a zero eigenvalue, the Liapunov functions contain quadratic and cubic terms in the state. Quadratic terms appear as well for the case of a pair of pure imaginary eigenvalues. Predictions of local asymptotic stability using these Liapunov functions are shown to coincide with those of pertinent bifurcation-theoretic calculations. The development of the paper is carried out using elementary properties of multilinear functions. The Liapunov function families thus obtained are amendable to symbolic computer coding.