The method of holomorphic foliations in planar periodic systems: The case of Riccati equations (Q1587633)

The author studies the existence, number, and types of periodic solutions to systems of two differential equations with periodic coefficients of the form \[ \frac{dz}{dt}=P(z,e^{it},e^{-it}),\quad z\in\mathbb{C}, \tag{1} \] where \(P\) is a polynomial in all variables with complex coefficients, i.e. polynomial in \(z\) with trigonometric coefficients. A new method of investigation of periodic solutions to system (1) is developed. This method is based on the analysis of geometry of leaves of certain holomorphic foliations in \(\mathbb{C} P^1\times \mathbb{C} P^1\). The most attention is placed on the study of Riccati equations. The dynamics of Riccati equations is determined by using some local invariants of holomorphic vector fields defining the foliations. New examples of Riccati equations without periodic solutions are presented.