Limit cycles for discontinuous quadratic differential systems with two zones (Q2338700)

Any quadratic system of ordinary differential equations on the plane whose phase portrait contains an isochronous center can be placed, by means of an affine change of coordinates and a time rescaling, into one of four standard forms, two of which are \[ \dot x = -y + x^2,\quad \dot y = x + xy\tag{1} \] and \[ \dot x = -y + x^2 - y^2, \quad \dot y = x + 2xy.\tag{2} \] Let \(p_j(x,y)\) and \(q_j(x,y)\), \(j = 1\), 2, be arbitrary quadratic polynomials without constant terms and perturb the system (1) by adding \(\epsilon p_j(x,y)\) to the \(\dot x\) term, \(j = 1\) for \(y > 0\) and \(j = 2\) for \(y < 0\), and by adding \(\epsilon q_j(x,y)\) to the \(\dot y\) term, \(j = 1\) for \(y > 0\) and \(j = 2\) for \(y < 0\), thereby obtaining a discontinuous quadratic system with the line of discontinuity \(y = 0\). The authors prove that there exist discontinuous systems of this form that are arbitrarily close to (1) and having 5 limit cycles that have emerged from the original period annulus. The result is proved using the method of averaging. Similarly, there exist discontinuous systems of such form that are arbitrarily close to (2) and having 4 limit cycles that have emerged from the original period annulus. In each case this exceeds the maximum number of limit cycles possible under continuous perturbation.