Modifying the onset of homoclinic chaos: Application to a bistable potential

We analyze, by means of the Melnikov method, the possibility of modifying the threshold of homoclinic chaos in general one-dimensional problems, by introducing small periodic resonant modulations. We indicate in particular a prescription in order to increase the threshold (i.e., to prevent chaos), and consider then its application to the bistable Duffing-Holmes potential. All results are confirmed both by numerical and by analog simulations, showing that small modulations can in fact sensibly influence the onset of chaos.