Existence of at most 1, 2, or 3 zeros of a Melnikov function and limit cycles (Q5931934)

The paper's topic concerns the existence of limit cycles generated by a class of autonomous two-dimensional nonlinear ordinary differential equations depending on several parameters. These equations are defined by polynomial, or nonpolynomial functions. One of the parameters, say e, plays a central role. It is such that the differential equations turn into conservative ones (they have an Hamiltonian form) when e is equal to zero. In the presence of hypotheses satisfied by the functions contained in the differential equations, the author gives some sufficient conditions ensuring the existence of at most one, two, or three limit cycles, their multiplicity being taken into account. The corresponding proofs are made by using Melnikov functions, and studying the maximal number of zeros of these functions depending on the parameters of the differential equations. Each limit cycle is related to a zero of a first-order Melnikov function. Applications to some equations, defined by polynomial functions and studied before by other authors, are presented. In particular they appear in codimension two bifurcations. In this framework, new results on some Lienard equations are obtained.