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Differential EquationsSuperchallengeExistence, Uniqueness & Bifurcations

Existence, Uniqueness & Bifurcations · Superchallenge problem

The state of a system obeys y′=h+y−y3y' = h + y - y^3, and the parameter hh is swept very slowly: up from a large negative value to a large positive value and back. The state tracks a stable equilibrium until that equilibrium disappears in a saddle-node bifurcation, then jumps straight (at constant hh) to the other stable branch. In the (h,y)(h, y)-plane the path traces a closed hysteresis loop. Find the area enclosed by the loop.