Extremal dynamics of the generalized Hutchinson equation

A scalar nonlinear differential-difference equation with two delays that generalizes Hutchinson's equation is considered. The bifurcation of self-oscillations of this equation from the zero equilibrium is studied in the extremal situation when one delay is asymptotically large while the other parameters are on the order of unity. Analytical methods combined with numerical techniques are used to show that the well-known buffer phenomenon occurs in the equation in this case. This means that an arbitrary finite number of different attractors coexist in the phase space of the equation with suitably chosen parameters.