Bifurcations in biparametric quadratic potentials. II.

Quadratic Hamiltonians with the phase space on the S (2) sphere represent numerous dynamical systems. There are only two classes of quadratic Hamiltonians depending on two parameters. We analyze the occurrence of bifurcations and we obtain the bifurcation lines in the parameter plane for one of these classes, thus complementing the work done in a previous paper where the other class was analyzed. As the parameters evolve, the appearance-disappearance of homoclinic orbits in the phase portrait is governed by four types of bifurcations: namely the pitchfork, the butterfly, the oyster and the pentadent bifurcations. We find also values where the system is degenerate, that is, there are nonisolated equilibria. (c) 1995 American Institute of Physics.