Generalised Lyapunov-Razumikhin techniques for scalar state-dependent delay differential equations (Q2178719)

The authors study scalar delay differential equations of the form \[\dot u(t)=\mu u(t)+\sigma u(t-a-cu(t))\] with four parameters. For establishing global asymptotic stability of the steady-state solutions, the authors use a method which they call ``generalised Lyapunov-Razumikhin techniques''. Namely, instead of considering solutions about to escape some ball centered at the steady state, they generalise their previous Lyapunov-Razumikhin-type results to consider the solutions at their local extrema. As the result, when global asymptotic stability cannot be established, the technique can be used to derive bounds on the persistent dynamics. The method is illustrated by applying it to the state-dependent delay differential equation known as the sawtooth equation, to find parameter regions for which the steady-state solution is globally asymptotically stable. Also, bounds on the periodic orbits are obtained that arise when the steady-state is unstable. The technique developed can be readily extended to apply to other scalar delay differential equations with negative feedback.