Integrability of Liénard systems with a weak saddle (Q2358961)

Two main concerns pertaining to Liénard-type differential equations are whether they are integrable or not, and the criteria for controlling their number of limit cycles. This article focuses on the former. It considers classical Liénard systems with a weak saddle at the origin, with \(F\), also analytic and \(F(0) = F'(0) = 0\). Under these circumstances the geometric interpretation of integrable systems is not clear as in the case when the orbits are closed. The method employed requires the computation of so-called (resonant) saddle quantities. Furthermore, the duality encountered in this problem between centers and saddles, given by the complex change of variables and time \((x_1,y_1,t_1) = (ix, y, it)\), that transforms one case into the other one when considering the system in \(\mathbb{C}^2\), does not allow for a simple geometric interpretation as one would have on \(\mathbb{R}^2\). This work provides a self-contained proof of the characterization of the integrable complex analytic differential systems in \(\mathbb{C}^2\), of the form \[ x'= y + F(x), \quad y' = ax, \quad 0\neq a \in \mathbb{C}, \] where \(F(x)\) is an analytic function of \(x\) without linear and constant terms. The authors prove that the above system is locally integrable at the origin if and only if \(F(x)\) is an even function of \(x\).