Normal form for the symmetry-breaking bifurcation in the nonlinear Schrodinger equation

Abstract

We derive and justify a normal form reduction of the nonlinear Schrodinger equation for a general pitchfork bifurcation of the symmetric bound state that occurs in a double-well symmetric potential. We prove persistence of normal form dynamics for both supercritical and subcritical pitchfork bifurcations in the time-dependent solutions of the nonlinear Schrodinger equation over long but finite time intervals.