A Hopf bifurcation theorem for singular differential-algebraic equations

We prove a Hopf bifurcation result for singular differential-algebraic equations (DAE) under the assumption that a trivial locus of equilibria is situated on the singularity as the bifurcation Occurs. The structure that we need to obtain this result is that the linearisation of the DAE has a particular index-2 Kronecker normal form, which is said to be simple index-2. This is so-named because the nilpotent mapping used to define the Kronecker index of the pencil has the smallest possible non-trivial rank, namely one. This allows us to recast the equation in terms of a singular normal form to which a local centre-manifold reduction and, subsequently, the Hopf bifurcation theorem applies. (C) 2008 IMACS. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.