Universal bifurcation patterns in the unfolding of a pair of homoclinic tangencies

Abstract

We study generic two- and three-parameter unfoldings of a pair of orbits of quadratic homoclinic tangency in strongly dissipative systems. We prove that the corresponding stability windows for periodic orbits have various universal forms: the so-called "shrimps" (cross-road areas), as well as spring and saddle areas, and (in three-parameter unfoldings) "pregnant shrimps" (specific types of transitions between the shrimps and spring or saddle areas).