Heteroclinic Cycles in Systems with $\mathbb{Z}_2\times\mathbb{Z}_2\times\mathbb{Z}_2$ Symmetry, Revisited

Abstract

We analyze the generating mechanisms for heteroclinic cycles in $\mathbb{Z}_2\times\mathbb{Z}_2\times\mathbb{Z}_2$--equivariant ODEs, not involving Hopf bifurcations. Such cycles have been observed in particle physics systems with the mentioned symmetry, in absence of the Hopf bifurcation, see \cite{bury} and \cite{Park}, and as far as we know, there is no available theoretical data explaining these phenomena. We use singularity theory to study the equivalence in the group-symmetric context, as well as the recognition problem for the simplest bifurcation problems with this symmetry group. Singularity results highlight different mechanisms for the appearance of heteroclinic cycles, based on the transition between the bifurcating branches. On the other hand, we analyze the heteroclinic cycle of a generic dynamical system with the symmetry of the group $\mathbb{Z}_2\times\mathbb{Z}_2\times\mathbb{Z}_2$ acting on a eight--dimensional torus $\mathbb{T}^8,$ constructed via a Cayley graph, under weak coupling. We identify the conditions for heteroclinic cycle between four equilibria in the three--dimensional fixed point subspaces of some of the isotropy subgroups of $\mathbb{Z}_2\times\mathbb{Z}_2\times\mathbb{Z}_2\times\mathbb{S}^1.$ We also analyze the stability of the heteroclinic cycle.