Slow divergence integrals in classical Liénard equations near centers (Q2340290)

The authors consider the classical Lienard equation in the two-dimensional system form: \[ \dot{x}=y-F(x), \dot{y}=-x, \] where \(F\) is a polynomial of degree \(n\). An old conjecture by Lins, de Melo and Pugh states that the number of limit cycles is less or equal to the greatest integer equal or below \((n-1)/2\). This conjecture was disproved after more than 30 years when \(n\geq 7\) and recently for \(n\geq 6\). On the other hand, it is known to be true for \(n\leq 4\), while the case \(n=5\) is still open. In the counterexamples to the conjecture for \(n\geq 6\), one or two limit cycles where shown to exist on top of the conjectured upper bound. Here, the authors drastically improve the previous counterexamples by showing that when \(n\geq 6\) there exists a polynomial \(F(x)\) of degree \(n\) such that the system has at least \(n-2\) isolated periodic orbits, all of which are hyperbolic. These solutions are constructed using geometric singular perturbation theory, and the problem is reduced to the computation of elementary integrals.