On periodic orbits of polynomial relay systems (Q2372731)

The authors consider a class of discontinuous vector fields (called polynomial relay systems) in \(\mathbb{R}^4\) depending on \(4\) parameters. They present a constructive algorithm which produces sufficient conditions on the space of the parameters, ensuring the existence of periodic orbits. This paper is a generalization of the one by \textit{A. Jacquemard} and \textit{M.-A. Teixeira} [Nonlinearity 18, No. 1, 21--43 (2005; Zbl 1091.34005)] in which the same problem is discussed for a \(2\)-parameters family of vector fields, which are reversible. In fact the proof deeply exploits this previous work and makes use of Sturm sequence theory to overcome the lack of symmetry of the new problem. Exploiting this algebraic geometry tool the authors are able to find open subsets of the \(4\)-dimensional parameter space, in which periodic orbit persist, if they exist. Then, regarding the 2 parameter space as a subspace of the 4 parameter space, and using the result of the previous paper, they achieve the existence of periodic solutions in these open sets.