Node

The term which may refer to one of the following:

• A singular (non-smooth) point of an algebraic curve which is a transversal intersection of smooth branches;
• A vertex of the boundary of a nodal domain in the Harmonic analysis (related to the above and also to the [of the node in Physics]);
• A singular point of vector field of a special type (with all eigenvalues of the linear part being to one side of the imaginary axis);
• A point at which the function is evaluated for purposes of interpolation or numeric integration.

Node of a curve

For an algebraic (or analytic) planar curve, the node (or nodal point, also nodal singularity) is a point of self-intersection of smooth branches of the curve.

Example. For the curve $r =s\sin3\varphi$ (in the polar coordinates) the origin of coordinates is a node.

Warning. Often it is additionally required that the curve has only transversal self-intersections. In this case at most two smooth branches of the curve can cross each other at any given point, thus the above example will be not a node in this restricted sense.

References

[a1]	J.L. Coolidge, "Algebraic plane curves" , Dover, reprint (1959)

Node of a vector field

A singular point of vector field $v(x)=Ax+\cdots$ (mostly on the plane, $x\in(\R^2,0)$, but higher-dimensional nodes in $(\R^n,0)$ are also considered) distinguished by the condition that the real part of all eigenvalues $\lambda_1,\dots,\lambda_n$ of the linear operator $A$ have the same sign. Thus the node can be stable, if $\operatorname{Re}\lambda_i<0$ for all $i=1,\dots,n$, and unstable if $\operatorname{Re}\lambda_i>0$ for all $i=1,\dots,n$. The stability is both in the Lyapunov sense and asymptotic (the unstable node is stable in the reverse time $\tau=-t$).

A stable (unstable) node is topologically equivalent to the standard node $\dot x=x$ (resp., $\dot x=-x$).

The node always has a polynomial Poincare-Dulac formal normal form, see Local normal forms for dynamical systems, linear for non-resonant nodes and integrable in quadratures for resonant nodes. The transformation bringing an analytic node into its normal form always converges.

Differential and analytic type of nodes

Although all nodes sharing the same stability type are topologically equivalent, their $C^k$-smooth classification (for $k\ge 1$) is nontrivial. For simplicity, we will talk only about the "genuine" (planar) nodes of real analytic vector fields. The following types can be distinguished.

1. Dicritical node with equal eigenvalues $(\lambda,\lambda)$ and diagonal linear part. The corresponding vector field has a continuum of separatrices and can be analytically linearized to its topological normal form times a positive constant $|\lambda|>0$.
2. Degenerate node with equal eigenvalues and nontrivial Jordan normal form of the linear part. This node has a single analytic separatrix but still can be analytically linearized. All other trajectories are characteristic with the common limit direction.
3. "Ordinary" resonant node with the ratio of eigenvalues $(\lambda:\mu)=(1:n)$, $n\in\N$, $n\ge 2$. This node also has only one analytic separatrix and is $C^{n-1}$-linearizable, but not $C^n$-linearizable in general. However, in the exceptional case the resonant node may have continuum of analytic separatrices and be analytically linearizable.
4. "Ordinary" nonresonant node always has two analytic separatrices and is analytically linearizable. All trajectories except for two have the common limit direction which coincides with the eigenvector having the smallest (in the absolute value) eigenvalue. Two exceptional trajectories form the other separatrix tangent to the second eigenvector.

References

[L]	S. Lefshetz, Differential equations: geometric theory , Dover, reprint (1977). MR0435481, Sect. IX.2
[BR]	G. Birkhoff, G.-C. Rota, Ordinary differential equations , Ginn (1962). MR0972977, Sect. VI.8
[IY]	Ilyashenko, Yu. and Yakovenko, S. Lectures on analytic differential equations, Graduate Studies in Mathematics, 86. American Mathematical Society, Providence, RI, 2008. MR2363178