Birth of Isolated Nested Cylinders and Limit Cycles in 3D Piecewise Smooth Vector Fields with Symmetry

Abstract

Our start point is a 3D piecewise smooth vector field defined in two zones and presenting a shared fold curve for the two smooth vector fields considered. Moreover, these smooth vector fields are symmetric relative to the fold curve, giving rise to a continuum of nested topological cylinders such that each orthogonal section of these cylinders is filled by centers. First, we prove that the normal form considered represents a whole class of piecewise smooth vector fields. After we perturb the initial model in order to obtain exactly [Formula: see text] invariant planes containing centers, a second perturbation of the initial model is also considered in order to obtain exactly [Formula: see text] isolated cylinders filled by periodic orbits. Finally, joining the two previous bifurcations we are able to exhibit a model, preserving the symmetry relative to the fold curve, and having exactly [Formula: see text] limit cycles.