A Filippov sliding vector field on an attracting co-dimension 2 discontinuity surface, and a limited loss-of-attractivity analysis (Q1937370)

The paper refers to a problem from the theory of discontinuous differential equations, namely, about the proper definition of the sliding vector field on the intersection (say \(\Sigma\)) of two smooth surfaces (\(\Sigma_1\) and \(\Sigma_2\)) being discontinuity sets. The classical Filipov theory defines (non-uniquely in that case) the vector field as a convex combination of the surrounding vector fields which is additionally tangent to the singularity surface. The authors restrict their considerations to a special convex combination originally suggested by \textit{J. C. Alexander} and \textit{T. I. Seidman} [Houston J. Math. 24, No. 3, 545--569 (1998; Zbl 0966.34056)] which has the form \[ f_F:=(1-\alpha)(1-\beta)f_1+(1-\alpha)\beta f_2+\alpha(1-\beta)f_3+\alpha\beta f_4 \] and is tangent to \(\Sigma\). Here, \(f_i\), \(i=1,2,3,4\), denote the corresponding vector fields in the four regions of the phase space separated by \(\Sigma_1\) and \(\Sigma_2\). In a rather technical proof, they justify the existence and uniqueness of such a vector field under more general assumptions than previously considered. Finally, the authors ``also propose a characterization of first order exit conditions, clarify its relation to generic co-dimension-one losses of attractivity for \(\Sigma\), and examine what happens to the dynamics on \(\Sigma\) for the aformentioned vector field \(f_F\).''