A method for characterizing nilpotent centers (Q2019256)

The following theorem is proved: Theorem. Suppose that the origin of the real analytic differential system \[ \dot x= y+ F_1(x,y),\quad \dot y= F_2(x,y),\tag{1} \] where \(F_1\) and \(F_2\) are real analytic functions without constant and linear terms, defined in a neighborhood of the origin, is a center. Then there exist analytic functions \(M_1\) and \(M_2\) without constants terms, such that the system \[ \dot x= y+ F_1(x,y)+\varepsilon M_1(x,y),\quad\dot y= -\varepsilon x+ F_2(x,y)+\varepsilon M_2(x,y), \] has a linear type center at the origin for all \(\varepsilon>0\), where \[ M_1= (x+ f){\partial f\over\partial y} \text{ and } M_2= -(x+ f){\partial f\over\partial x}- f. \] Here, \(f(x,y)\) is an analytic function starting with terms of degree two in \(x\) and \(y\). This theorem is used for a solution of the center-focus problem for (1). It is illustrated by examples. For example, it is shown that the equality \[ -98+ 47a^2+ 20a^4= 0 \] is a necessary center condition for the system \[ \dot x= y+ ax^2+ 5xy^2,\quad \dot y= -2x^3+ 3xy^2- 4y^3. \]