On limit cycles of the Liénard equation with \(Z_2\) symmetry (Q2482559)

The paper deals with the limit cycles problem for the class of Liénard equations \[ \ddot{x}+f(x) \dot{x}+g(x)=0 \] where \(g(x)\) is a third-degree polynomial and \(f(x)\) is a polynomial of even degree \(2m\). Such a system has three equilibria with one saddle point at the origin and two linear centers on the \(x\)-axis which are symmetric with respect to the origin. The authors investigate the number of small-amplitude limit cycles \(\bar{H}(2m,3)\) bifurcating from these two linear centers by appropriately choosing focal values by means of a developed Maple program. Ten cases are considered and it has been proved that \(\bar{H}(2m,3)=2m\) for \(m=1,2,\dots,10\). It is conjectured that \(\bar{H}(2m,3)=2m\) for all integers \(m\geq1\).