Stability and Bifurcation Analysis of Fractional Delay Differential Equation with a Delay-dependent Coefficient

Abstract

This paper investigates the stability of different regions in the $(k,\gamma)$-plane for a class of fractional delay differential equations given by \begin{equation} D^{\alpha} x(t) = -\gamma x(t) + g\big(x(t - \tau_1)\big) - e^{-\gamma \tau_2}\, g\big(x(t - \tau_1 - \tau_2)\big), \qquad 0 < \alpha \le 1, \end{equation} where $k = g'(0)$. The primary focus is on the stability of the trivial equilibrium of the corresponding linearized system. A detailed stability and bifurcation analysis is carried out for the particular case $\tau_1 = 0$ and $\tau_2 \ge 0$. Furthermore, a general result is established for the case $\tau_1 > 0$, $\tau_2 \ge 0$, which holds for all values of $\alpha$ and $\tau_1$. In addition, illustrative examples are provided in the form of stability diagrams in the $(\tau_1,\tau_2)$-plane for fixed values of $\alpha$, $k$, and $\gamma$. These diagrams are generated using appropriate numerical methods to visualize the stability regions and to support the theoretical results.