Contraction analysis of switched Filippov systems via regularization

We study incremental stability and convergence of switched (bimodal) Filippov systems via contraction analysis. In particular, by using results on regularization of switched dynamical systems, we derive sufficient conditions for convergence of any two trajectories of the Filippov system between each other within some region of interest. We then apply these conditions to the study of different classes of Filippov systems including piecewise smooth (PWS) systems, piecewise affine (PWA) systems and relay feedback systems. We show that contrary to previous approaches, our conditions allow the system to be studied in metrics other than the Euclidean norm. The theoretical results are illustrated by numerical simulations on a set of representative examples that confirm their effectiveness and ease of application.Comment: Preprint submitted to Automatic

Piecewise smooth systems near a co-dimension 2 discontinuity manifold: can one say what should happen?

We consider a piecewise smooth system in the neighborhood of a co-dimension 2 discontinuity manifold $\Sigma$. Within the class of Filippov solutions, if $\Sigma$ is attractive, one should expect solution trajectories to slide on $\Sigma$. It is well known, however, that the classical Filippov convexification methodology is ambiguous on $\Sigma$. The situation is further complicated by the possibility that, regardless of how sliding on $\Sigma$ is taking place, during sliding motion a trajectory encounters so-called generic first order exit points, where $\Sigma$ ceases to be attractive. In this work, we attempt to understand what behavior one should expect of a solution trajectory near $\Sigma$ when $\Sigma$ is attractive, what to expect when $\Sigma$ ceases to be attractive (at least, at generic exit points), and finally we also contrast and compare the behavior of some regularizations proposed in the literature. Through analysis and experiments we will confirm some known facts, and provide some important insight: (i) when $\Sigma$ is attractive, a solution trajectory indeed does remain near $\Sigma$, viz. sliding on $\Sigma$ is an appropriate idealization (of course, in general, one cannot predict which sliding vector field should be selected); (ii) when $\Sigma$ loses attractivity (at first order exit conditions), a typical solution trajectory leaves a neighborhood of $\Sigma$; (iii) there is no obvious way to regularize the system so that the regularized trajectory will remain near $\Sigma$ as long as $\Sigma$ is attractive, and so that it will be leaving (a neighborhood of) $\Sigma$ when $\Sigma$ looses attractivity. We reach the above conclusions by considering exclusively the given piecewise smooth system, without superimposing any assumption on what kind of dynamics near $\Sigma$ (or sliding motion on $\Sigma$) should have been taking place.Comment: 19 figure

Smoothing tautologies, hidden dynamics, and sigmoid asymptotics for piecewise smooth systems

Switches in real systems take many forms, such as impacts, electronic relays, mitosis, and the implementation of decisions or control strategies. To understand what is lost, and what can be retained, when we model a switch as an instantaneous event, requires a consideration of so-called hidden terms. These are asymptotically vanishing outside the switch, but can be encoded in the form of nonlinear switching terms. A general expression for the switch can be developed in the form of a series of sigmoid functions. We review the key steps in extending the Filippov's method of sliding modes to such systems. We show how even slight nonlinear effects can hugely alter the behaviour of an electronic control circuit, and lead to `hidden' attractors inside the switching surface.Comment: 12 page

Quantum Electroweak Symmetry Breaking Through Loop Quadratic Contributions

Based on two postulations that (i) the Higgs boson has a large bare mass $m_H \gg m_h \simeq 125$ GeV at the characteristic energy scale $M_c$ which defines the standard model (SM) in the ultraviolet region, and (ii) quadratic contributions of Feynman loop diagrams in quantum field theories are physically meaningful, we show that the SM electroweak symmetry breaking is induced by the quadratic contributions from loop effects. As the quadratic running of Higgs mass parameter leads to an additive renormalization, which distinguishes from the logarithmic running with a multiplicative renormalization, the symmetry breaking occurs once the sliding energy scale $\mu$ moves from $M_c$ down to a transition scale $\mu =\Lambda_{EW}$ at which the additive renormalized Higgs mass parameter $m^2_H(M_c/\mu)$ gets to change the sign. With the input of current experimental data, this symmetry breaking energy scale is found to be $\Lambda_{EW}\simeq 760$ GeV, which provides another basic energy scale for the SM besides $M_c$. Studying such a symmetry breaking mechanism could play an important role in understanding both the hierarchy problem and naturalness problem. It also provides a possible way to explore the experimental implications of the quadratic contributions as $\Lambda_{EW}$ lies within the probing reach of the LHC and the future Great Collider.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figures, published versio