Theorem: Let A L(E), and e At be a hyperbolic flow.

Then E can be uniquely

decomposed into a direct sum of stable and unstable subspace, i.e., E E U E S , and
both subspace are invariant under A( i. e., AE E & AE E) . Moreover, the induced
flow on E S is a contraction and the flow on E U is an expansion.
Proof:
Given a basis, then put A into a real canonical form. Order the basis, so that the
canonical form matrix will have the first eigen-values Re < 0, then Re >0.The
first set of blocks represent A E E and the rest represent A E E . Since E S is
invariant under A, it is also invariant under e At .If put A E AS , A E AU
respectively, then e At E = e AS t will be a contraction by a previous theorem and
e At E = e AU t will be an expansion. To prove the uniqueness, suppose E F U F S
is another decomposition, and e At F is a contraction, e At F is an expansion. Let x
F S , x = y + z where y E S , z E U . e At x 0, e At y 0 as t
and e At z 0. But e At z e At z , a > 0 t. This is possible only if z =0.
F S E S . Similarly E S F S E S = F S . Similarly E U = F U (using e At
in the argument ).

This theorem gives us some view of the hyperbolic flow that decomposes the space
into two disjoint subspaces. One is contraction and the other is expansion. Therefore,
there is no element belonging to each subspace except the zero vector. And the
hyperbolic flow is generic.
Definition1: X E is open if x X , then there exists an open ball Br (x) =
y : y x r of x contained in X such that Br (x) X .
Definition2: X E is dense if every point of E can be approximated by X , i.e.
if x E , then y X y x < .
Remark: Equivalently, X U for every nonempty open set U E .
(Homework)
Proposition: Let X 1 , , X m be open dense sets in E , then X = X 1 X 2
X m is also open and dense.
Note that rational numbers are dense but not open in real. Therefore an open dense set
is a large set.
Proof:

(open) Let

xX x

X i , i=1,2,

,m . B

ri

(x)

X i , i=1,2,

,m.

Let r = min{ r1 , , rm } ; then Br (x) with radius r will be contained in E .

(dense) Let U be any open set in E . Since the intersection of a nonempty open and
a dense set is still nonempty and open, we have the following result:

X 1 U X 2

X3

Xm

U ( X1

X2

Xm ) .

Definition: A property is generic if it contains a dense open set.

Theorem: The set A L( R n ) : e At is hyperbolic flow is open and dense in L( R n ) .
Proof: Homework.
The theorem gives some body good news and bad news because the nonhyperbolic
matrix may be perturbed into hyperbolic one and vice-versa.

Chapter 3
Next, we extend the previous discussion to nonlinear sinks. First, let us define x =
f (x ) , f : W R n R n where W is open and f is C 1 .
Definition: x W is an equilibrium point if f (x ) =0.
Definition: Let : R W W be the flow associated with x = f (x ) ; t
(t , x) t (x) is the solution passing through x when t =0.
Definition: Suppose f C 1 with 0 as the equilibrium point. If Df (0) = A have

negative real ports, 0 is called a nonlinear sink. (Please refer to Robinson

P.132~P.133.)
Theorem: Let x W be a sink of x = f (x ) . Suppose every eigen-value of

f1
f1
f1

(x)
(x)
(x)

x2
xn
x1

Df (x )

has negative real part less tha n c

f n ( x ) f n ( x ) f n ( x )
x

x2
xn
1

, c 0, then a neighborhood u W of x such that (a) t (x) is defined and

in u x u , t >0 .
(b) a Euclidean norm on R n such that t ( x) x e tc x x , x u , t
0.
(c) For any norm on R n , B > 0, t ( x) x B e tc x x , x u , t
0.
Hint of homework:
1
1
0 , B=
1
0

1
0

A=

1
0 with eigenvalues 1, 1 and the associated quadratic
1

form is x1 2 - x1 x x + x2 2 0. AB 0.
1

1/ 2

1/ 2

1/ 2

But A=

1
0 , B=

1/ 2

0 with eigenvalues 1/2 , 3/2 and the

associated quadratic form is x1 2 - 2 x1 x x + x2 2 >0 for all x1 and x2 0 .

AB > 0.