3. Given that $a$ and $b$ are real numbers, and $a \geqslant 1$. If the equation $x^{2}-2 b x-\left(a-2 b^{2}\right)=0$ has real solutions, and satisfies $2 a^{2}-a b^{2}-5 a+b^{2}+4=0$, then $a^{2}+b^{2}=$
3.6 .

From the equation $x^{2}-2 b x-\left(a-2 b^{2}\right)=0$ having real solutions, we get $\Delta=4 b^{2}+4\left(a-2 b^{2}\right) \geqslant 0$, which means $a \geqslant b^{2}$.
From $2 a^{2}-a b^{2}-5 a+b^{2}+4=0$, we can derive $2 a^{2}-5 a+4=a b^{2}-b^{2}=b^{2}(a-1) \leqslant a(a-1)$. Therefore, $2 a^{2}-5 a+4 \leqslant a^{2}-a$, which simplifies to $(a-2)^{2} \leqslant 0$.
Solving this, we get $a=2, b^{2}=2$.
Thus, $a^{2}+b^{2}=6$.