Solve these two coupled first-order differential equations and sketch the flow

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on solving coupled first-order differential equations represented as a vector equation. The user successfully derives a second-order differential equation and finds a complex solution for \(y(t)\) using the Ansatz \(y(t)=c_1 e^{i \sqrt{a}t}-c_2 e^{-i \sqrt{a}t}\). The user expresses uncertainty about plotting the flow \(\phi_t(\textbf{x})\) due to the complex nature of the solution and the unknown constants \(c_1\) and \(c_2\). The conversation highlights the importance of initial conditions in determining these constants and emphasizes the need to plot only the real part of the solution for physical realizability.

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Lambda96
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Homework Statement
solve the two coupled first-order differential equations ##\textbf{f}(\textbf{x}(t))## and sketch the flow ##\phi_t(\textbf{x})##
Relevant Equations
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Hi,

unfortunately, I have a problem to solve the following task

Bildschirmfoto 2023-07-04 um 20.08.10.png


The equation looks like this:

$$\left(\begin{array}{c} \frac{d}{dt} x(t) \\ \frac{d}{dt} y(t) \end{array}\right)=\left(\begin{array}{c} -a y(t) \\ x(t) \end{array}\right)$$

Since the following is true ##\frac{d}{dt} y(t)=x(t)## I substituted ##x(t)## into the first equation on the left hand side, obtaining a 2nd order differential equation, i.e. ##y''(t)=-ay(t)## to solve this differential equation I then used the Ansatz ##y(t)=e^{\lambda t}## and obtained the following solution.

$$y(t)=c_1 \ e^{i \sqrt{a}t}-c_2 \ e^{-i \sqrt{a}t}$$

I then obtain x(t) using ##\frac{d}{dt} y(t)=x(t)##

$$y(t)=i \ \sqrt{a} \ c_1 \ e^{i \sqrt{a}t}-i \ \sqrt{a} \ c_2 \ e^{-i \sqrt{a}t}$$

Unfortunately, I am now a bit unsure about task b. For the flow ##\phi_t(\textbf{x})## I would now simply draw the vector ##\textbf{f}(\textbf{x}(t))=\left(\begin{array}{c} -a y(t) \\ x(t) \end{array}\right)## with my solution from task a for ##y(t)## and ##x(t)##.

Unfortunately I have problems to draw the vector, because I don't know what the constants ##c_1## and ##c_2## are and unfortunately my solution from task a is complex, so do I have to plot only the real part or is my solution from task a wrong?
 
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The flow map doesn't assume one particular set of ICs. That would make only one line in the flow map.

Since ##a \in \mathbb R ## your solutions should be real too. This is a physically realizable system. This is a constraint on ##c_1## and ##c_2##. Your ICs will be various values of ##x(0)## and ##y(0)## which will then determine ##c_1## and ##c_2##.

This may help:
http://www.math.sjsu.edu/~simic/Fall05/Math134/flows.pdf

But there's lots of stuff on the web. Steve Strogatz has a nice set of lectures on YouTube in dynamic systems that does flow maps, but it's long.

Look for features like where the derivative(s) are zero to find stable points and asymptotes.

Sorry, it's been a long time since I really did this sort of work, and I'm too lazy to actually solve this system.
 
Last edited:
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Thanks DaveE for your help and the links 👍👍
 
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