Planar quadratic vector fields with invariant lines of total multiplicity at least five (Q2369467)

The authors consider planar systems of differential equations of the form \(\dot x = P(x,y),\) \(\dot y = Q(x,y)\) and the associated vector fields \(X(x,y) = P(x,y)\partial/\partial x + Q(x,y)\partial/\partial y\), where \(P\) and \(Q\) are polynomials satisfying \(\text{max}(\text{deg}(P),\text{deg}(Q))=2\). They accomplish two objectives in this paper: (1) find all such systems (up to an affine transformation of coordinates and a time rescaling) that have in their phase portraits at least five invariant lines (counting multiplicity), including the line at infinity in complex projective space, and (2) characterize such systems in terms of algebraic invariants and comitants. Complete definitions of all these terms are included in the work. The Darboux theory of integration, relating integrability of polynomial systems to the presence of invariant algebraic curves, is a fundamental tool used.