Dynamics of a nonstandard finite-difference scheme for Mackey-Glass system (Q929574)

The authors investigate the dynamic behaviour of a discretised model of the Mackey-Glass system described by the delay differential equation \[ \dot p(t)= -\gamma p(t) +\frac{\beta \theta ^n p(t-\tau)}{\theta ^n+p^n(t-\tau)},\quad t\geq 0. \] Here, \(p(t)\) denotes the density of mature cells in blood circulation, \(\tau\) is the time-delay between the production of immature cells in the bone marrow and their maturation for release in circulating bloodstreams, \(\beta,\, \theta,\, n\) and \(\gamma\) are given positive parameters. It is known that the Mackey-Glass system is useful for the mathematical investigation of chronic granulocytic leukemia (CGL). First, the nonstandard finite difference scheme introduced in \textit{R. E. Mickens} [Appl. Numer. Math. 45, No.~2--3, 309--314 (2003; Zbl 1025.65047)] is applied to obtain a discrete-time system. Then, using the Hopf bifurcation theory for difference systems, the stability of a positive fixed point and the existence of local Hopf bifurcations at the fixed point are investigated. It is shown that a sequence of Hopf bifurcations occurs at the positive fixed point as the time-delay increases. The authors also analyse the stability and calculate the direction of the Hopf bifurcation. Further, some interesting numerical experiments are presented. The numerical solutions obtained by the nonstandard scheme are compared with those obtained by the Euler method. Finally, based on the numerical results, some conclusions are given for explaining the relation between the time of producing blood cells and the symptom of CGL.