Limit cycles near generalized homoclinic and double homoclinic loops in piecewise smooth systems

In this paper, we study the bifurcation of limit cycles in piecewise smooth systems by perturbing a piecewise Hamiltonian system with a generalized homoclinic or generalized double homoclinic loop. We first obtain the form of the expansion of the first Melnikov function. Then by using the first coefficients in the expansion, we give some new results on the number of limit cycles bifurcated from a periodic annulus near the generalized (double) homoclinic loop. As applications, we study the number of limit cycles of a piecewise near-Hamiltonian systems with a generalized homoclinic loop and a central symmetric piecewise smooth system with a generalized double homoclinic loop.     

Bifurcation of limit cycles by perturbing a piecewise linear Hamiltonian system with a homoclinic loop

In this paper, we study limit cycle bifurcations for a kind of non-smooth polynomial differential systems by perturbing a piecewise linear Hamiltonian system with the center at the origin and a homoclinic loop around the origin. By using the first Melnikov function of piecewise near-Hamiltonian systems, we give lower bounds of the maximal number of limit cycles in Hopf and homoclinic bifurcations, and derive an upper bound of the number of limit cycles that bifurcate from the periodic annulus between the center and the homoclinic loop up to the first order in ε$\epsilon$. In the case when the degree of perturbing terms is low, we obtain a precise result on the number of zeros of the first Melnikov function.     

Periodic orbits for perturbations of piecewise linear systems

We consider the existence of periodic orbits in a class of three-dimensional piecewise linear systems. Firstly, we describe the dynamical behavior of a non-generic piecewise linear system which has two equilibria and one two-dimensional invariant manifold foliated by periodic orbits. The aim of this work is to study the periodic orbits of the continuum that persist under a piecewise linear perturbation of the system. In order to analyze this situation, we build a real function of real variable whose zeros are related to the limit cycles that remain after the perturbation. By using this function, we state some results of existence and stability of limit cycles in the perturbed system, as well as results of bifurcations of limit cycles. The techniques presented are similar to the Melnikov theory for smooth systems and the method of averaging.     

Homoclinic,heteroclinic and periodic orbits of singularly perturbed systems

The main aims of this paper are to study the persistence of homoclinic and heteroclinic orbits of the reduced systems on normally hyperbolic critical manifolds, and also the limit cycle bifurcations either from the homoclinic loop of the reduced systems or from a family of periodic orbits of the layer systems. For the persistence of homoclinic and heteroclinic orbits, and the limit cycles bifurcating from a homolinic loop of the reduced systems, we provide a new and readily detectable method to characterize them compared with the usual Melnikov method when the reduced system forms a generalized rotated vector field. To determine the limit cycles bifurcating from the families of periodic orbits of the layer systems, we apply the averaging methods.We also provide two four-dimensional singularly perturbed differential systems, which have either heteroclinic or homoclinic orbits located on the slow manifolds and also three limit cycles bifurcating from the periodic orbits of the layer system.     

On Melnikov functions of a homoclinic loop through a nilpotent saddle for planar near-Hamiltonian systems

The first-order Melnikov function of a homoclinic loop through a nilpotent saddle for general planar near-Hamiltonian systems is considered. The asymptotic expansion of this Melnikov function and formulas for its first coefficients are given. The number of limit cycles which appear near the homoclinic loop is discussed by using the asymptotic expansion of the first-order Melnikov function. An example is presented as an application of the main results.     

On the number of limit cycles by perturbing a piecewise smooth Hamilton system with two straight lines of separation

This paper deals with the problem of limit cycle bifurcations for a piecewise smooth Hamilton system with two straight lines of separation. By analyzing the obtained first order Melnikov function, we give upper and lower bounds of the number of limit cycles bifurcating from the period annulus between the origin and the generalized homoclinic loop. It is found that the first order Melnikov function is more complicated than in the case with one straight line of separation and more limit cycles can be bifurcated.     

Limit cycle bifurcations near generalized homoclinic loop in piecewise smooth systems with a cusp

For a piecewise analytical Hamiltonian system with a cusp on a switch line, which has a family of periodic orbits near a generalized homoclinic loop, we study the maximum number of limit cycles bifurcating from the periodic orbits. For doing so, we first obtain the asymptotic expressions of the Melnikov functions near the loop. Finally we present two examples illustrating applications of the main results.     

On Hopf bifurcation in non-smooth planar systems

As we know, for non-smooth planar systems there are foci of three different types, called focus-focus (FF), focus-parabolic (FP) and parabolic-parabolic (PP) type respectively. The Poincaré map with its analytical property and the problem of Hopf bifurcation have been studied in Coll et al. (2001) [3] and Filippov (1988) [6] for general systems and in Zou et al. (2006) [13] for piecewise linear systems. In this paper we also study the problem of Hopf bifurcation for non-smooth planar systems, obtaining new results. More precisely, we prove that one or two limit cycles can be produced from an elementary focus of the least order (order 1 for foci of FF or FP type and order 2 for foci of PP type) (Theorem 2.3), different from the case of smooth systems. For piecewise linear systems we prove that 2 limit cycles can appear near a focus of either FF, FP or PP type (Theorem 3.3).     

Resonance bifurcation from homoclinic cycles

Differential equations that are equivariant under the action of a finite group can possess robust homoclinic cycles that can moreover be asymptotically stable. For differential equations in R⁴ there exists a classification of different robust homoclinic cycles for which moreover eigenvalue conditions for asymptotic stability are known. We study resonance bifurcations that destroy the asymptotic stability of robust ‘simple homoclinic cycles’ in four-dimensional differential equations. We establish that typically a periodic trajectory near the cycle is created, asymptotically stable in the supercritical case.     

On the limit cycles of perturbed discontinuous planar systems with 4 switching lines

Limit cycle bifurcations for a class of perturbed planar piecewise smooth systems with 4 switching lines are investigated. The expressions of the first order Melnikov function are established when the unperturbed system has a compound global center, a compound homoclinic loop, a compound 2-polycycle, a compound 3-polycycle or a compound 4-polycycle, respectively. Using Melnikov’s method, we obtain lower bounds of the maximal number of limit cycles for the above five different cases. Further, we derive upper bounds of the number of limit cycles for the later four different cases. Finally, we give a numerical example to verify the theory results.     

The qualitative analysis of a class of planar Filippov systems

We use the theory of differential inclusions, Filippov transformations and some appropriate Poincaré maps to discuss the special case of two-dimensional discontinuous piecewise linear differential systems with two zones. This analysis applies to uniqueness and non-uniqueness for the initial value problem, stability of stationary points, sliding motion solutions, number of closed trajectories, existence of heteroclinic trajectories connecting two saddle points forming a heteroclinic cycle and existence of the homoclinic trajectory     

Limit cycles for generalized Kukles polynomial differential systems

We study the limit cycles of generalized Kukles polynomial differential systems using averaging theory of first and second order.     

Phase portraits of piecewise linear continuous differential systems with two zones separated by a straight line

This paper provides the classification of the phase portraits in the Poincaré disc of all piecewise linear continuous differential systems with two zones separated by a straight line having a unique finite singular point which is a node or a focus. The sufficient and necessary conditions for existence and uniqueness of limit cycles are also given.     

The planar discontinuous piecewise linear refracting systems have at most one limit cycle

In this paper we investigate the limit cycles of planar piecewise linear differential systems with two zones separated by a straight line. It is well known that when these systems are continuous they can exhibit at most one limit cycle, while when they are discontinuous the question about maximum number of limit cycles that they can exhibit is still open. For these last systems there are examples exhibiting three limit cycles.The aim of this paper is to study the number of limit cycles for a special kind of planar discontinuous piecewise linear differential systems with two zones separated by a straight line which are known as refracting systems. First we obtain the existence and uniqueness of limit cycles for refracting systems of focus-node type. Second we prove that refracting systems of focus–focus type have at most one limit cycle, thus we give a positive answer to a conjecture on the uniqueness of limit cycle stated by Freire, Ponce and Torres in Freire et al. (2013). These two results complete the proof that any refracting system has at most one limit cycle.     

A GENERAL PROPERTY OF THE QUADRATIC DIFFERENTIAL SYSTEMS

In this paper, it is proved that the quadratic differential systems with a weak saddle of order 2 or 3 have no closed or singular closed orbit. Then by the results of [3], it follows that the greatest order of the homoclinic loop bifurcation of a quadratic differential system is between 2 and 3 It means a homoclinic loop can be split into at most three limit cycles.     

Maslov index for homoclinic orbits of Hamiltonian systems

A useful tool for studying nonlinear differential equations is index theory. For symplectic paths on bounded intervals, the index theory has been completely established, which revealed tremendous applications in the study of periodic orbits of Hamiltonian systems. Nevertheless, analogous questions concerning homoclinic orbits are still left open. In this paper we use a geometric approach to set up Maslov index for homoclinic orbits of Hamiltonian systems. On the other hand, a relative Morse index for homoclinic orbits will be derived through Fredholm index theory. It will be shown that these two indices coincide.     

Limit cycle bifurcations by perturbing a cuspidal loop in a Hamiltonian system

In this paper, we first study the analytical property of the first Melnikov function for general Hamiltonian systems exhibiting a cuspidal loop and obtain its expansion at the Hamiltonian value corresponding to the loop. Then by using the first coefficients of the expansion we give some conditions for the perturbed system to have 4, 5 or 6 limit cycles in a neighborhood of loop. As an application of our main results, we consider some polynomial Lienard systems and find 4, 5 or 6 limit cycles.     

Two Limit Cycles in Liénard Piecewise Linear Differential Systems

Some techniques for studying the existence of limit cycles for smooth differential systems are extended to continuous piecewise linear differential systems. Rigorous new results are provided on the existence of two limit cycles surrounding the equilibrium point at the origin for systems with three zones separated by two parallel straight lines without symmetry. As a relevant application, it is shown the existence of bistable regimes in an asymmetric memristor-based electronic oscillator.

     

Cyclicity of planar homoclinic loops and quadratic integrable systems

A general method for a homoclinic loop of planar Hamiltonian systems to bifurcate two or three limit cycles under perturbations is established. Certain conditions are given under which the cyclicity of a homoclinic loop equals 1 or 2. As an application to quadratic systems, it is proved that the cyclicity of homoclinic loops of quadratic integrable and non-Hamiltonian systems equals 2 except for one case. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China.     

On the Number of Limit Cycles in Small Perturbations of a Piecewise Linear Hamiltonian System with a Heteroclinic Loop

In this paper, the authors consider limit cycle bifurcations for a kind of nonsmooth polynomial differential systems by perturbing a piecewise linear Hamiltonian system with a center at the origin and a heteroclinic loop around the origin. When the degree of perturbing polynomial terms is n(n ≥ 1), it is obtained that n limit cycles can appear near the origin and the heteroclinic loop respectively by using the first Melnikov function of piecewise near-Hamiltonian systems, and that there are at most n + [(n+1)/2] limit cycles bifurcating from the periodic annulus between the center and the heteroclinic loop up to the first order in ε. Especially, for n = 1, 2, 3 and 4, a precise result on the maximal number of zeros of the first Melnikov function is derived.