The center problem for \(\mathbb{Z}_2\)-symmetric nilpotent vector fields (Q1645117)

An isolated singularity at the origin of an analytic planar system of ordinary differential equations \[ \dot x = P(x, y), \quad\dot y = Q(x, y) \] is nilpotnent if the linear part of the corresponding vector field \(X = (P, Q)\) at the origin has both eigenvalues zero but is not itself zero. The system is \({\mathbb Z}_2\)-symmetric with respect to the origin if \(P(-x, -y) = -P(x, y)\) and \(Q(-x, -y) = -Q(x, y)\). The main result of this paper is the following characterization that the singularity of such a system is a center. Theorem. The origin of any \({\mathbb Z}_2\)-symmetric system is a nilpotent center if and only if there is a local analytic first integral of the form \(H(x, y) = y^2 + \cdots,\) where the dots denote terms of order greater than two.