The period function of Hamiltonian systems with separable variables (Q2181123)

The authors consider planar Hamiltonian systems \[ \dot x=-H_y(x,y), \qquad \dot y=H_x(x,y), \] with Hamiltonian function of the form \(H(x,y)=F_1(x)+F_2(y)\), where \(F_1,F_2\) are analytic functions with a local minimum at the origin, so that the dynamical system driven by the system \(\dot x=-F'_2(y), \dot y=F'_1(x)\) has a critical center at the origin. Denoting by \(\gamma_h\) the periodic orbit inside the energy level \(H=h\), the period function is given by \[ T(h)=\int_{\gamma_h} \frac{dx}{F'_2(y)}. \] The authors look for conditions implying the monotonicity of the period function as well as the existence of at most one critical periodic orbit. Several sufficient conditions are presented. They include those already known as well as some new ones. Finally the authors investigate the asymptotic properties of the period function in the special case \(F_1(x)=F_2(-x)\).