Stabilized rapid oscillations in a delay equation: feedback control by a small resonant delay (Q2180362)

In this paper, the scalar delay differential equation \[\dot{x}(t) =\lambda f(x(t-1)) +b^{-1}(x(t)+x(t-p/2))\] is considered, where \(p>0\), \(\lambda\) and \(b\) are real parameters, and \(f\in C^3\) is odd with \(f(0)=0, f'(0)=1\) and \(f'''(0)<0\). Supercritical Hopf bifurcation from \(x\equiv 0\) is assumed for the equation \(\dot{x}(t) = \lambda f(x(t-1))\). Branches of constant minimal period \(p_k = 2\pi/\omega_k\) are known to bifurcate from eigenvalues \(i\omega_k = i(k+\frac{1}{2})\pi\) at \(\lambda_k=(-1)^{k+1}\omega_k\). Such periodic solutions of the equation with vanishing feedback persist as solutions of the equation for any \(b\not = 0\). Parameter regions \((\underline{b}_k, \overline{b}_k)\) of the control \(b\not= 0\) are found such that the branch \(k\) becomes locally stable at Hopf bifurcation. This complements one of the author's earlier work on equations with a control term \(b^{-1}(x(t-\theta)+x(t-\theta-p/2))\).