Multiple periodic solutions of delay differential systems with \(2k-1\) lags via variational approach (Q321603)

The paper considers a nonlinear system of delay differential equations of the form NEWLINE\[NEWLINE\dot x(t)=-\sum_{k=1}^{n}\nabla F(x(t-k)),\tag{DS}NEWLINE\]NEWLINE where \(x\in\mathbb R^N\), \(F\in C^1(\mathbb R^N,\mathbb R)\), and the gradient of the function \(F\) satisfies \(\nabla F(-x)=-\nabla F(x).\) System (DS) is assumed to be asymptotically constant in the sense that NEWLINE\[NEWLINE \nabla F(x)=A_\infty+o(|x|)\text{ as }|x|\to\infty\text{ and }\nabla F(x)=A_0+o(|x|)\text{ as }|x|\to0, NEWLINE\]NEWLINE where \(A_\infty\) and \(A_0\) are constant symmetric matrices. Sufficient conditions for the existence of periodic solutions of period \(4k\) are established where \(n=2k-1\) must hold. The solutions are symmetric in the sense that \(x(t-2k)=-x(t)\) \(\forall t\in\mathbb R.\) A lower estimate for the number of different symmetric periodic solutions is given in terms of eigenvalues of the matrices \(A_\infty\) and \(A_0\). Two illustrative examples are considered of two-dimensional systems (DS).