Limit cycles of generic piecewise center-type vector fields in \(\mathbb{R}^3\) separated by either one plane or by two parallel planes (Q2166189)

The authors investigate crossing limit cycles of continuous and discontinuous piecewise differential systems in \(\mathbb{R}^3\) given by linear vector fields similar to planar centers separated by either one plane or by two parallel planes. Let \(\mathbf{x}=(x, y, z)^T\in\mathbb{R}^3\). Consider a three-dimensional vector field \[ \dot{\mathbf{x}}=A \mathbf{x}+B, \] obtained by applying an affine transformation to the linear differential system \[ \dot{x}=-y, \quad \dot{y}=x, \quad \dot{z}=0, \] where \(A\) is an invertible constant \(3\times 3\) matrix and \(B\in\mathbb{R}^3\) is a constant vector. Such a vector field is called a \textit{linear center} or simply a \textit{center} in \(\mathbb{R}^3\). The authors prove that a continuous or discontinuous piecewise system in \(\mathbb{R}^3\) separated by a plane and formed by two linear centers has no limit cycles. Moreover, a continuous piecewise system in \(\mathbb{R}^3\) separated by two parallel planes and formed by three linear centers generically has no limit cycles. On the other hand, a discontinuous piecewise system in \(\mathbb{R}^3\) separated by two parallel planes and formed by three linear centers generically has at most four limit cycles and this maximum number can be attained. The genericity here means that the statements hold in a residual set of the space of parameters associated to the differential system.