Perturbed isotropic oscillators with inversion symmetry

Abstract: We consider the normal form of a 1:1 detuned resonance that can be related, via a double averaging process, to the three body problem of celestial mechanics. In view of the symmetry in the gravitational coupling between the planets, the obtained normal form exhibits inversion symmetry. We provide an analytical prediction of the possible bifurcations in terms of the detunings and the other physical parameters of the system. We show that the bifurcation scenario is rich. It includes bifurcation sequences where the unstable orbit appearing after a saddle-node bifurcation can have a reversed pitchfork bifurcation, where it turns into stability with the birth of two unstable orbits, which eventually reconnect with one of the two quasi-normal modes. Furthermore, another scenario shows a standard pitchfork in which one of the quasi-normal modes becomes unstable, giving rise to a pair of stable periodic orbits. By introducing coupling and asymmetry parameters, we provide an effective way to discern all the possible sequences of bifurcations.