Saddle-node bifurcation of periodic orbits for a delay differential equation (Q2181272)

In this paper, the scalar delay differential equation \[\dot{x}(t) =-x(t)+ f_K(x(t-1))\] is considered, where \(K>0\) is a parameter and for any fixed \(\varepsilon >0\), the feedback \(f_K\) is a continuous nondecreasing function defined as \(f_k(x)= K\) for \(x\geq 1+\varepsilon\), \(f_k(x)= 0\) for \(x\in [-1, 1]\), \(f_K(x) = -K\) for \(x\leq -1-\varepsilon\), and \(f_K(x)\) is strictly increasing for \(x\in (-1-\varepsilon, -1)\cup (1, 1+\varepsilon)\). It is shown that the map \(f_K\) has two fixed points \(x^*_-\in (-1-\varepsilon, -1)\) and \(x^*_+\in (1, 1+\varepsilon)\), so \(x^*_-\) and \(x^*_+\) are two equilibria of the equation. Then a saddle-node bifurcation of periodic orbits takes place as \(K\) varies. The generated periodic orbits are of large amplitude in the sense that they oscillate about both unstable fixed points of \(f_K\). This is a continuation of one of the author's previous publications.