title: Estimating the escape zone for a parametrically excited pendulum-type equation
abstract: This paper derives theoretical results for determining bifurcation curves which provide bounds on anticipated "escape" regimes in a two-dimensional parameter space for an equation which is a natural extension of a commonly used second-order parametrically excited nonlinear pendulum equation. An application of these results is made for an equation which often arises in smectic liquid-crystal problems. The results for this application are more refined yet qualitatively similar to those obtained by different methods reported in the literature.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics, University of Strathclyde, Livingstone Tower, 26 Richmond Street, Glasgow G1 1XH, United Kingdom.
authors.initials: IW
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Faulkner