Finite cyclicity of elementary graphics surrounding a focus or center in quadratic systems. (Q1415971)

The authors prove that several elementary graphics surrounding a focus or center in quadratic systems have finite cyclicity. This paper represents an additional step in the large program to prove the existence of a uniform bound for the number of limit cycles of a quadratic vector field which the authors call the finiteness part of Hilbert's 16th problem for quadratic vector fields. It nearly finishes the part of the program concerned with elementary graphics.