For some non-linear function, we can use its first Jacobian to create a linear system. Then, we can use that system to write the first order Taylor:
where crit are critical points. Phase Portrait stability if all Re[\lambda] < 0 of \left(\nabla F\right)(p) then p is considered stable—that is, points initially near p will exponentially approach p if at least one Re[\lambda] > 0 of \left(\nabla F\right)(p) then p is considered unstable—that is, points initially near p will go somewhere else if all Re[\lambda] \leq 0 and at least one \lambda is pure imaginary of \left(\nabla F\right)(p), then there are no conclusions and p is considered marginal If there are no purely imaginary values, then the solution paths of the ODE look like that of y’ = (\nambla F)(p) y. Worked Example Let’s Lotha-Volterra Prey-Predictor Equation again as an example
we can stare at this (and factor x out) to understand that there are only two stationary points:
Let’s analyze this function for linearilzation. Let’s write this expression in terms of the linear and non linear parts
Near (0,0) You will note that the right non-linear parts becomes very small near (0,0), meaning we can analyze this in terms of a normal phase portrait. Near (3,2) We can translate this down: Let:
meaning:
we can use a Taylor expansion to get:
Recall that F is given as:
meaning:
plugging in (3, 2) obtains:
which we can analyze in the usual manners.