A new class of 3-dimensional piecewise affine systems with homoclinic orbits (Q321621)

The authors define a piecewise affine system of three ODEs, one for \(x<0\) and the other for \(x>0\). Since the affine systems are each explicitly solvable, expressions for the stable and unstable manifolds of the fixed point \(p\) that exists for \(x>0\) can be found, as well as explicit solutions in the region \(x<0\). By piecing together solutions in the two half-spaces, the authors show that a homoclinic orbit to \(p\) exists. Simulations show apparently chaotic solutions for the parameter value for which the homoclinic orbit exists, in confirmation of Shil'nikov's results. This paper is very similar to [\textit{A. Arneodo} et al., J. Stat. Phys. 27, 171--182 (1982; Zbl 0522.58033)].