Minimal instability and unstable set of a phase-locked periodic orbit in a delayed neural network (Q1808363)

The authors consider the following delay differential system \[ \dot{U}(t)=-\mu U(t)+f(V(t-\tau)),\qquad \dot{V}(t)=-\mu V(t)+f(U(t-\tau)), \] where \(f:\mathbb{R}\to \mathbb{R}\) is a \(C^1\)-smooth function with = \(f(0)=0\). Such a system arises in modelling of artificial neural networks with electronic circuit implementation (Hopfield's model). It is proved the existence of a nontrivial phase-locked periodic orbit. The instability and the stable manifold of this orbit and the spectrum of the related monodromy operator are discussed. The existence of a smooth solid spindle is proved, contained in the global attractor, separated by a disk bordered by a phase-locked orbit.