Non-isochronicity of the center at the origin in polynomial Hamiltonian systems with even degree nonlinearities (Q2482486)

The authors derive conditions for determining when the center at the origin of the Hamiltonian system \[ \dot x = -H_y, \quad \dot y = H_x, \] for \(H(x,y) = (x^2+y^2)/2 + J(x,y)\), \(J\) a polynomial function beginning with terms of order at least three, is isochronous. They also give a criterion for determining the order of the center. Their results give a new proof of the known result that the center cannot be isochronous if \(J\) is a homogeneous poynomial, and additionally show that if all terms in \(J\) have odd degree then the center cannot be isochronous. This answers a weak version of a question posed by X.~Jarque and J.~Villadelprat.