Asymptotic lower bounds on Hilbert numbers using canard cycles (Q2286682)

Consider real planar systems \[ \frac{dx}{dt}=P(x,y),\ \frac{dy} {dt}=Q(x,y),\tag{\(*\)} \] where \(P\) and \(Q\) are polynomials of degree \(N\). The maximum number of limit cycles of system (\(*\)) is denoted by the Hilbert number \(H(N)\). For systems with lower degree \(N\) lower bounds for \(H(N)\) are known, e.g. \(H(2)\ge 4\), \(H(3)\ge 13\). The goal of the authors is to derive asymptotic lower bounds for \(H(N)\). Their main result reads Theorem. There exists a function \(\underline{H}: \mathbb{N}\to\mathbb{R}\) with the property \[ \underline{H}(N)=\left( \frac{N^2\log N}{2(\log 2)}\right)(1+o(1))\text{ as }N\to\infty, \] and a sequence \((N_k)_{k\in\mathbb{N}}\) with \(N_k\to\infty\) as \(k\to\infty\) and for which \[ H(N_k)\ge\underline{H}(N_k)\text{ for all }k\in \mathbb{N}. \] The authors note that the systems where the lower bound is reached are singularly perturbed systems. Hence, the proof of the theorem is based on the study of the maximum number of limit cycles of the singularly perturbed Liénard systems \[ \frac{dx}{dt}=y-F(x),\ \frac{dy}{dt}=\varepsilon G(x), \] where geometric singular perturbation theory including the concepts of canard cycles, canard nests and singular Hopf bifurcation play a fundamental role.