Period-doubling/symmetry-breaking mode interactions in iterated maps

Abstract We consider iterated maps with a reflectional symmetry. Possible bifurcations in such systems include period-doubling bifurcations (within the symmetric subspace) and symmetry-breaking bifurcations. By using a second parameter, these bifurcations can be made to coincide at a mode interaction. By reformulating the period-doubling bifurcation as a symmetry-breaking bifurcation, two bifurcation equations with Z 2 × Z 2 symmetry are derived. A local analysis of solutions is then considered, including the derivation of conditions for a tertiary Hopf bifurcation. Applications to symmetrically coupled maps and to two coupled, vertically forced pendulums are described.