Existence of non-trivial limit cycles in Abel equations with symmetries (Q388466)

Consider the family of generalized Abel equations \[ x'=a_1A_1(t)x^{n_1}+a_2A_2(t)x^{n_2}+a_3A_3(t)x^{n_3}, \] where \(a_k\) are real numbers, \(A_k\) are analytic \(2\pi\)-periodic functions and \(n_1,n_2,n_3\geq1\) are different positive integers. A \(2\pi\)-periodic solution different of \(x(t)\equiv0\) is called non-trivial. The authors assume that \(A_1(t)\sin(t)\), \(A_2(t)\cos t\) and \(A_3(t)\sin t \cos t\) are \(\pi\)-periodic positive even functions and that \(A_k(t)=t^{i_k}+o(t^{i_k})\) and \(A_k(t)=(\pi/2-t)^{j_k}+o((\pi/2-t)^{j_k})\) for some integer numbers \(i_k\) and \(j_k\). Then, they give conditions on these values to ensure that either the equation has no non-trivial periodic solutions or has at least one non-trivial limit cycle (isolated periodic solution). These limit cycles are proved to exist by studying the stability of \(x=0\) and the one at infinity. Finally other examples with limit cycles are obtained by studying second-order perturbations of simple generalized Abel equations exhibiting continua of periodic solutions.