On the number of limit cycles bifurcating from a quartic reversible center (Q2675954)

The authors study the following system of planar differential equations \begin{align*} \dot{x} & = -y + x^3 y + x y^3 + \varepsilon f(x, y), \\ \dot{y} & = x + x^2 y^2 + y^4 + \varepsilon g(x, y), \end{align*} where \(\varepsilon\) is a small perturbation parameter and \(f\) and \(g\) are real polynomials of order \(3n+1\). The unperturbed system has a continuous family of periodic solutions. Using averaging theory the following results are proved: \begin{itemize} \item[1.] For \(n = 1, 2, 3, \ldots\), at most \(2n\) limit cycles arise from the period annulus around the center of the unperturbed system. The upper bound is sharp; \item[2.] For any \(n > 3\), at most \(3n-3\) limit cycles arise from the period annulus. \end{itemize} The proof relies on the zeroes of a properly constructed averaged function for the system, written in polar coordinates. In particular, to show that the estimates are sharp, the authors construct polynomials for which the averaged function has the appropriate number of zeroes.