title: Experimental continuation of periodic orbits through a fold.
abstract: We present a continuation method that enables one to track or continue branches of periodic orbits directly in an experiment when a parameter is changed. A control-based setup in combination with Newton iterations ensures that the periodic orbit can be continued even when it is unstable. This is demonstrated with the continuation of initially stable rotations of a vertically forced pendulum experiment through a fold bifurcation to find the unstable part of the branch.
authors.affiliation: School of Engineering, University of Aberdeen, Kings College, Aberdeen, AB24 3UE, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sieber
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Buelga
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Neild
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Wagg
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Krauskopf