The period function of classical Liénard equations (Q868833)

The authors study differential equations of the form \[ \ddot{x}+x+f(x)\dot{x}=0, \tag{1} \] where \(f\) is a nonzero polynomial of odd degree \(2l-1\). If one takes \(F(x)=\int_0^x f(s)\,ds\), then equation (1) is transformed to the system \[ \dot{x}=y-F(x),\quad \dot{y}=-x. \tag{2} \] System (2) has an annulus filled with periodic orbits. A transversal curve with parameter \(h\) is fixed; in this case, let \(T(h)\) be the period of the periodic orbit corresponding to the parameter \(h\). \(T(h_0)\) is called a critical period if \(T'(h_0)=0\). The authors show that there exists a system (2) that has \(2l-2\) critical periods and conjecture that this value is the maximal possible.