Periodic solutions for a class of second-order differential delay equations (Q2062570)

The multi-dimensional differential delay equation of second order \[ z^{\prime\prime}(t)=-f(z(t-1))+f(z(t-2))-\cdots+(-1)^{M}f(z(t-M)), \tag{1} \] is considered under the assumptions of the continuity and oddness of the nonlinearity \(f, f(-z)=-f(z), z\in\mathbf{R}^N,\) and its asymptotic representation at zero and infinity as \[ f(z)=B_0z +o(|z|) \text{ as } |z|\to0,\quad f(z)=B_{\infty}z +o(|z|) \text{ as } |z|\to\infty, \] where \(B_0\) and \(B_{\infty}\) are symmetric \(N\times N\) matrices. Estimates for the lower number of symmetric periodic solutions of equation (1) are established in terms of numbers of certain eigenvalues of the matrices \(B_0\) and \(B_{\infty}\). The results are based on reduction of equation (1) to systems of ordinary differential equations and their subsequent analysis. The original idea of such reduction goes back to the classical paper by \textit{J. L. Kaplan} and \textit{J. A. Yorke} [J. Math. Anal. Appl. 48, 317--324 (1974; Zbl 0293.34102)] with numerous follow up research and publications.