Relationships between limit cycles and algebraic invariant curves for quadratic systems (Q852689): Difference between revisions

The paper deals with algebraic limit cycles in quadratic systems. As it is well known, seven types of algebraic limit cycles have been found: one of degree 2, four of degree 4, one of degree 5 and one of degree 6. An algebraic limit cycle \(\gamma\) of a planar system \(\dot{x}=p(x,y)\), \(\dot{y}=q(x,y)\) is contained in the zero set of certain invariant algebraic curve \(\varphi(x,y)=0\), i.e., satisfying \(p\partial\varphi/\partial x+ q\partial\varphi/\partial y -k\varphi=0\), \(k\in {\mathbb R}[x,y]\) being the cofactor. Here, the authors prove five theorems on the relationships between \(\gamma\), \(\varphi\) and \(k\) in the case when \(k=0\) is an isocline, or contains a singular point of the system, as well as when \(\varphi=0\) intersects the line at infinity at exactly one point. The results obtained suggest that the following conjecture is relevant: if a quadratic system has an algebraic limit cycle, then it is the unique limit cycle of the system.