Canard cycles of non-linearly regularized piecewise smooth vector fields

Abstract: The main purpose of this paper is to study limit cycles in non-linear regularizations of planar piecewise smooth systems with fold points (or more degenerate tangency points) and crossing regions. We deal with a slow fast Hopf point after non-linear regularization and blow-up. We give a simple criterion for upper bounds and the existence of limit cycles of canard type, expressed in terms of zeros of the slow divergence integral. Using the criterion we can construct a quadratic regularization of piecewise linear center such that for any integer $k>0$ it has at least $k+1$ limit cycles, for a suitably chosen monotonic transition function $\varphi_k:\mathbb{R}\rightarrow\mathbb{R}$. We prove a similar result for regularized invisible-invisible fold-fold singularities of type II$_2$. Canard cycles of dodging layer are also considered, and we prove that such limit cycles undergo a saddle-node bifurcation.