Integrability and symmetries for the Helmholtz oscillator with friction

Abstract

This paper deals with the Helmholtz oscillator, which is a simple nonlinear oscillator whose equation presents a quadratic nonlinearity and the possibility of escape. When a periodic external force is introduced, the width of the stochastic layer, which is a region around the separatrix where orbits may exhibit transient chaos, is calculated. In the absence of friction and external force, it is well known that analytical solutions exist since it is completely integrable. When only friction is included, there is no analytical solution for all parameter values. However, by means of the Lie theory for differential equations we find a relation between parameters for which the oscillator is integrable. This is related to the fact that the system possesses a symmetry group and the corresponding symmetries are computed. Finally, the analytical explicit solutions are shown and related to the basins of attraction.