On period functions of Liénard systems (Q1286364)

For the second-order differential equation of Liénard type: \[ x''+f(x) x'+g(x)=0 \tag{1} \] by using an equivalent plane differential system: \[ x'=y-xB (x),\quad y'=-C(x)-yB(x),\tag{2} \] with \(x^2B(x)= \int^x_0 sf(s) ds\), \(C(x)=g(x)- xB^2(x)\), the author proves the following two theorems: Theorem 1. Let \(f,g\in C^1(a,b)\) for some \(a<0<b\), assume \(O(0,0)\) is a center. Let \(T\) be the period function, and define: \(g_n(x)=g(x)-g'(0)x\), \(\sigma(x) \triangleq 2x^2f(x)\int^x_0 sf(s)ds-4(\int^x_0 sf(s)ds)^2+ x^3g_n(x)-x^4g_n'(x) \). Assume \(xC(x)>0\) in a punctured neighborhood of 0, then: 1) if \(\sigma(x) \leq 0\) \((\geq 0)\) in a neighborhood of 0, then \(T\) is decreasing (increasing) in a neighborhood of \(O\). 2) if \(\sigma(x)\equiv 0\) in a neighborhood of \(0\), then \(T\) is constant in a neighborhood of \(O\). In case 2), take \(C(x)\equiv x\), define: \(\tau(x) \triangleq\left(\int^x_0 sf(s)ds \right)^2-x^3 g_n(x)\). Theorem 2. Let \(f,g\) be analytic, \(g\) odd, \(f(0)=g(0)=0\), \(g'(0)>0\). Then \(O\) is a center if and only if \(f\) is odd, and 1) \(T\) is strictly decreasing (increasing) in a neighborhood of \(O\) if and only if \(\tau(x)\) has a maximum (minimum) at 0. 2) \(O\) is an isochronous center if and only if \(\tau(x)\equiv 0\). These results extend, or give simpler conditions or new proofs of some earlier works of other mathematicians.