Probability of existence of limit cycles for a family of planar systems (Q6072862)

Theorems concerning existence and number of limit cycles of deterministic \(2\times 2\) systems of nonlinear differential equations are proved. The probability of existence of limit cycles of such systems is studied by using the associated system of random differential equations \[\dot{x}=Af(x)+ By,\qquad \dot{y}= Cf(x)+ Dy,\] where \(f\) is a smooth function with \(f(0)=0\), and \(A\), \(B\), \(C\), \(D\) are independent standard normal random variables. When \(f\) is a judiciously chosen polynomial, theorems and corollaries are proved that specify or bound probabilities such as that of having no limit cycles, an odd number of limit cycles, at most a finite number of limit cycles, and exactly (or no or at most) one limit cycle.