Conditions for a centre in a simple class of cubic systems (Q1386252)

A two-dimensional autonomous system of the form \[ \frac {dx}{dt}=ax+by+xf(x,y),\qquad \frac {dy}{dt}=cx+dy+yf(x,y), \] where \(f(x,y)=\alpha x + \beta y + Ax^2 + Bxy + Cy^2\) and \(a\), \(b\), \(c\), \(d\), \(\alpha \), \(\beta \), \(A\), \(B\) and \(C\) are real constants, is studied. The author shows that the system possesses a centre at the origin if and only if \[ a+d=0,\quad ad-bc>0,\quad bA-aB-cC=0 \] and \[ (b\alpha -a\beta)^2 A-(b\alpha -a\beta)(a\alpha +c\beta)B+(a\alpha +c\beta)^2 C=0. \] The proof of the necessity of these conditions relies on the properties of an integrating factor rather than on those of a first integral and uses a variant of the criterion of G. Reeb. The considered system can be transformed into a simpler system of the same form, where \(a=d=0\), \(b=-1\), \(c=1\). Considering the subclass of such systems which are nonlinear and possess a centre at the origin, the author shows that there are several topologically inequivalent cases. Moreover, first integrals are given, and phase portraits are drawn for each case.