From isochronous potentials to isochronous systems (Q2254057)

This paper studies Hamiltonian systems of the type \[ \left\{ \begin{align*}{ \dot{y}&= - V'(x) \cr \dot{x}&= T'(y) ,}\end{align*} \right. \] where \(T\) and \(V\) are \(C^2\)-functions, with associated Hamiltonian function \[ E(x,y) = T(y) + V(x). \] The system is assumed to have a center at a certain point \((x_0,y_0)\), and \(V(x_0) = T(y_0) = 0\). Suppose that \(T\) is a normal isochronous potential, the authors studies the period of every non-trivial closed orbit, which is given by \[ \tau = \int_{x_1}^{x_2} {dx \over \sqrt{E_0 - V(x)}}, \] where \(E_0\) is the energy of the solutions and \(x_1< x_2\) are its horizontal extremals. Furthermore, the authors show that if \(T\) is isochronous, then the original system is isochronous if and only if \(V\) is isochronous as well. Applications of the results to the Steen's equation \[ \ddot{x} - {c \over x^3} + \mu x = 0,\quad x>0 \] are presented in the paper.