Periodic solutions for an \(N\)-dimensional cyclic feedback system with delay (Q2297262)

In this paper, the authors consider a cyclically coupled system of differential equations of the form \[\begin{aligned} \dot{y}_1(t) &= -\mu_1y_1(t)+f_1(y_2(t-\tau_2)), \\ \dot{y}_2(t) &= -\mu_2y_2(t)+f_2(y_3(t-\tau_3)),\\ &\ldots, \\ \dot{y}_N(t) &= -\mu_Ny_N(t)+f_N(y_1(t-\tau_1)),\end{aligned}\] with \(\tau_j\geq 0\) and \(\mu_j>0\), and \(C^1\)-feedback functions \(f_j: \mathbb{R}\to\mathbb{R}\) satisfying certain conditions. This system is transformed to the system \[\begin{aligned}\dot{x}_1(t) &= -\mu_1x_1(t)+g_1(x_2(t)),\\ \dot{x}_2(t) &= -\mu_2x_2(t)+g_2(x_3(t)),\\ &\ldots,\\ \dot{x}_N(t) &= -\mu_Nx_N(t)+g_N(x_1(t-\tau))\end{aligned}\] with \(\tau=\sum^N_{j=1}\tau_j\). They first develop a fixed point theorem. Then, they construct a return map for the above system and apply the fixed point theorem to the return map to obtain a theorem on the existence of periodic solutions. Also, a criterion for global asymptotic stability is obtained. This is a very interesting piece of work directly linked to the authors' earlier paper.