Unique periodic orbits for delayed positive feedback and the global attractor (Q5935514)

The scalar differential delay equation \[ \dot x(t)=-\mu x(t)+f(x(t-1)), \tag{1} \] where \(\mu>0, f: \mathbb{R}\rightarrow \mathbb{R}\) is continuous and strictly increasing with \(f(0)=0\) and \(|f(x)|<\mu |x|\) for all \(x\) outside a bounded neighborhood of \(0\), possesses a global attractor \({\mathcal A}\). The global attractor \({\mathcal A}\) is a nonempty compact set of the phase space \({\mathcal C}:=C([-1,0], \mathbb{R})\) which is invariant under the semiflow defined by equation (1) and which attracts all bounded sets of \(\mathcal C\). In an earlier work by the authors and \textit{J. Wu} [Shape, smoothness and invariant stratification of an attracting set for delayed monotone positive feedback. Fields Institute Monograph Series. 11. Providence, RI: AMS (1999; Zbl 1004.34002)], under additional assumptions on equation (1), the existence of an invariant three-dimensional set \(\overline{W}\) was established and its fine structure studied. The assumptions imposed in the paper under review, that are somewhat stronger and also imply the existence of \(\overline{W}\), are (H1) \(f(0)=0, f^\prime(x)>0\) for all \(x\in \mathbb{R}\), \(f(x)-\mu x\) has exactly one zero \(\xi^-\) in \((-\infty,0)\) and exactly one zero \(\xi^+\) in \((0,\infty),\) \(f^\prime(\xi^-)<\mu, f^\prime(\xi^+)<\mu\), (H2) \(f^\prime(0)>\mu/\cos\theta\) for \(\theta\in (3/2\pi, 2\pi)\) with \(\theta=-\mu\tan\theta\). They guarantee the existence of exactly two more constant solutions \(\xi_-\) and \(\xi_+\) to equation (1) both stable and hyperbolic, and of a set \(S\) that is a separatrix of nonoscillatory behavior. The invariant set \(\overline{W}\) may be visualized as a smooth solid spindle which is split by the invariant disk \(\overline{W}\cap S\) into the basins of attraction towards the tips \(\xi^-\) and \(\xi^+\). In the present paper, the authors indicate additional to (H1) and (H2) conditions under which the invariant set \(\overline{W}\) is a global attractor, that is \(\overline{W}={\mathcal A}\). The conditions are (H3) \(f^\prime(0)<\mu/\cos\theta\) for \(\theta\in (7\pi/2, 4\pi)\) with \(\theta=-\mu\tan\theta\), (H4) \(f(-x)=-f(x)\) for all \(x\in \mathbb{R}\), and the function \(x f^\prime (x)/f(x)\) is strictly decreasing in \((0,\infty)\). The assumptions (H2) and (H3) guarantee that the linearization of equation (1) about \(0\) has precisely three eigenvalues with positive real parts. The assumption (H4) then allows one to prove that there exists exactly one rapidly oscillating periodic solution which forms, together with the equilibria \(0\), \(\xi^-\) and \(\xi^+\), a part of the global attractor.