The multiplicity of the equatorial limit cycle of a class of planar polynomial vector fields (Q2653972)

Consider the planar autonomous system \[ \begin{aligned} {dx_1\over dt} &= x_1+ a_0 x^{2m+1}_1+ a_1 x^{2m}_1 x_2+\cdots+ a_{2m} x_1 x^{2m}_2+ a_{2m+1} x^{2m+1}_2,\\ {dx_2\over dt} &= x_2+ b_0 x^{2m+1}_1+ b_1 x^{2m}_1 x_2+\cdots+ b_{2m} x_1 x^{2m}_2+ b_{2m+1} x^{2m+1}_2.\end{aligned} \] Using the polynomial \[ p(y):= b_0 y^{2m+2}- (a_0- b_1) y^{2m+1}- (a_1- b_2) y^{2m}-\cdots- (a_{2m}- b_{2m+1}) y- a_{2m+1}, \] the authors prove a criterion for the equator of the Poincaré sphere to be a limit cycle (at infinity) an to determine its multiplicity.