Catastrophe Theory

1 Singularities, Bifurcations, and Catastrophes.- 2 Whitney's Singularity Theory.- 3 Applications of Whitney's Theory.- 4 A Catastrophe Machine.- 5 Bifurcations of Equilibrium States.- 6 Loss of Stability of Equilibrium and of Self-Oscillating Modes of Behaviour.- 7 Singularities of the Stability Boundary and the Principle of the Fragility of Good Things.- 8 Caustics, Wave Fronts, and Their Metamorphoses.- 9 The Large-Scale Distribution of Matter in the Universe.- 10 Singularities in Optimization Problems: the Maximum function.- 11 Singularities of the Boundary of Attainability.- 12 Smooth Surfaces and Their Projections.- 13 The Problem of Bypassing an Obstacle.- 14 Symplectic and Contact Geometry.- 15 Complex Singularities.- 16 The Mysticism of Catastrophe Theory.- Appendix The Precursors of Catastrophe Theory.- Conclusion.- Problems.- References.1 Singularities, Bifurcations, and Catastrophes.- 2 Whitney's Singularity Theory.- 3 Applications of Whitney's Theory.- 4 A Catastrophe Machine.- 5 Bifurcations of Equilibrium States.- 6 Loss of Stability of Equilibrium and of Self-Oscillating Modes of Behaviour.- 7 Singularities of the Stability Boundary and the Principle of the Fragility of Good Things.- 8 Caustics, Wave Fronts, and Their Metamorphoses.- 9 The Large-Scale Distribution of Matter in the Universe.- 10 Singularities in Optimization Problems: the Maximum function.- 11 Singularities of the Boundary of Attainability.- 12 Smooth Surfaces and Their Projections.- 13 The Problem of Bypassing an Obstacle.- 14 Symplectic and Contact Geometry.- 15 Complex Singularities.- 16 The Mysticism of Catastrophe Theory.- Appendix The Precursors of Catastrophe Theory.- Conclusion.- Problems.- References.