On the uniqueness of algebraic limit cycles for quadratic polynomial differential systems with two pairs of equilibrium points at infinity (Q1681810)

Consider the system \[ \dot{x}=P(x,y),\qquad \dot{y}=Q(x,y), \] where \(P\) and \(Q\) are real polynomials. An oval of an irreducible invariant algebraic curve, which is a limit cycle, is called algebraic limit cycle. A version of the Hilbert's sixteenth problem consists in finding a uniform upper bound for the number of algebraic limit cycles of any system of degree \(n\). There are in the literature upper bounds for generic systems and many results for non-generic systems. The problem considered in this paper is to find quadratic systems which do not satisfy the genericity conditions, and to show that this system has at most one algebraic limit cycle. The authors solve this problem for quadratic systems that have two pairs of diametrically opposite equilibrium points at infinity.