Additive noise quenches delay-induced oscillations

Noise has significant impact on nonlinear phenomena. Here we demonstrate that, in opposition to previous assumptions, additive noise interferes with the linear stability of scalar nonlinear systems when these are subject to time delay. We show this by performing a recently designed time-dependent delayed center manifold (DCM) reduction around a Hopf bifurcation in a model of nonlinear negative feedback. Using this, we show that noise intensity must be considered as a bifurcation parameter and thus shifts the threshold at which delay-induced rhythmic solutions emerge.