In mathematics, a heteroclinic cycle is an invariant set in the phase space of a dynamical system. It is a topological circle of equilibrium points and connecting heteroclinic orbits. If a heteroclinic cycle is asymptotically stable, approaching trajectories spend longer and longer periods of time in a neighbourhood of successive equilibria.
In generic dynamical systems heteroclinic connections are of high co-dimension, that is, they will not persist if parameters are varied.