Dynamical invariants and inverse period-doubling cascades in multi-delay systems

We investigate transitions to simple dynamics in first-order nonlinear differential equations with multiple delays. With a proper choice of parameters, a single delay can destabilize a fixed point. In contrast, multiple delays can both destabilize fixed points and promote high-dimensional chaos but also induce stabilization onto simpler dynamics. We show that the dynamics of these systems depend on the precise distribution of the delays. Narrow spacing between individual delays induces chaotic behavior, while a lower density of delays enables stable periodic or fixed point behavior. As the dynamics become simpler, the number of unstable roots of the characteristic equation around the fixed point decreases. In fact, the behavior of these roots exhibits an astonishing parallel with that of the Lyapunov exponents and the Kolmogorov-Sinai entropy for these multi-delay systems. A theoretical analysis shows how these roots move back toward stability as the number of delays increases. Our results are based on numerical determination of the Lyapunov spectrum for these multi-delay systems as well as on permutation entropy computations. Finally, we report how complexity reduction upon adding more delays can occur through an inverse period-doubling sequence.