Analytic varieties as limit periodic sets (Q1944383)

The following definition is due to \textit{R. Roussarie} [Bifurcation of planar vector fields and Hilbert's sixteenth problem. Basel: Birkhäuser (1998; Zbl 0898.58039)]. Given an analytic family of planar vector fields \(X_\lambda\). A limit periodic set is a compact non-empty subset \(\Gamma\) such that there exists a sequence \((\lambda_n)_{n \in \mathbb{N}} \to 0\) in the parameter space, and a limit cycle \(\gamma_n\) of \(X_{\lambda_n}\) such that \(\gamma_n \to \Gamma\) (in the Hausdorff metric) as \(n \to \infty\). Indeed, as it was proved in the aforementioned book, the characterization of all the limit periodic sets of a family of planar polynomial differential systems of fixed degree \(d\) and the determination of its cyclicity would give rise to a solution of the celebrated Hilbert's sixteenth problem. The structure of limit periodic sets is, thus, an interesting open problem. Examples of limit periodic sets are a weak focus, a homoclinic loop, a heteroclinic monodromic graph, etc. In the article [\textit{D. Panazzolo} and \textit{R. Roussarie}, Bol. Soc. Bras. Mat., Nova Sér. 26, No. 1, 85--116 (1995; Zbl 0837.58023)], an example of a polynomial family with a segment as limit periodic set is provided. The present paper provides new examples of degenerate limit periodic sets. Given an analytic function \(f: U \subset \mathbb{R}^2 \to \mathbb{R}\) and a positive scalar \(R \in \mathbb{R}\), we introduce the following notations (following the paper), the ball \(B_R:=\left\{ p \in \mathbb{R}^2 : \| p \| <R \right\}\), its closure denoted by \(\bar{B_R}\), and the zero set of \(f\) denoted by \(Z(f):= f^{-1}(0)\). Among other technical hypotheses, assume that the intersection of \(\bar{B_R}\) and \(Z(f)\) is non-empty, and denote it by \(\Gamma = Z(f) \cap \bar{B_R}\). Then the author provides a way to give an analytic family \(X_\lambda\), with \(\lambda \in \mathbb{R}\), such that each connected component of \(\Gamma\) is a limit periodic set at \(\lambda=0\). Furthermore, if \(f(x,y)\) is a polynomial of degree \(M\), then a polynomial family \(X_\lambda\) can be found with degree at most \(2(M-1)(M-2)+7\).