We introduce the notion of (h, k) manifolds and give conditions under
which the property of being a manifold with asymptotic phase holds. Th
ese conditions allow the construction of a transformation of the varia
tional equation of a nonlinear nonautonomous systems with (h, k) dicho
tomies, into an almost decoupled quasilinear system. The class of admi
ssible h and k functions is also briefly analyzed. (C) 1997 Academic P
ress.