Global algebraic Poincaré-Bendixson annulus for the van der Pol system (Q2671936)

The object of interest in the paper are the limit cycles in the planar system \(\dot{x}=P(x,y,\lambda)\), \(\dot{y}=Q(x,y,\lambda)\), with smooth functions \(P,Q\) and \(\lambda\) running some real interval. The main tools are the Poincaré-Bendixson annuli (the space between two nested ovals, free of critical points). In fact, the special case of van der Pol equation is considered in much more detail. Making use of the Dulac-Cherkas function zero level set as the inner oval, the authors are able to produce several results concerning the initial case as well as this latter one.