The center problem on piecewise smooth differential systems with two zones (Q6085062)

In this paper, the authors investigate the \(\Sigma\)-center problem of planar piecewise smooth systems defined in two zones separated by the \(x\)-axis. Here a \(\Sigma\)-center refers to a topological center of the system whose close orbits surrounding it consist of trajectories of some component sub-systems in a neighborhood of the center. Let the system under consideration has the following form: \[ \begin{pmatrix} \dot{x} & {} \\ \dot{y} & {} \end{pmatrix}= \begin{cases} \begin{pmatrix}f^+(x, y) &{} \\ g^+(x, y) & {} \end{pmatrix} :=X^+ & \text{if } y> 0,\\ \begin{pmatrix}f^-(x, y) & {} \\g^-(x, y) & {} \end{pmatrix}:=X^- & \text{if } y< 0, \end{cases} \] where \(f^{\pm}(x, y)\) and \(g^{\pm}(x, y)\) are analytic functions. Let the origin \(O\) be the possible position of the \(\Sigma\)-center. A point \((x, 0)\) on the \(x\)-axis is called \textit{crossing} if \(g^{+}(x, 0)g^{-}(x, 0)>0\). \(O\) is called a \textit{crossing \(\Sigma\)-center} if it is a \(\Sigma\)-center with only crossing points on the \(x\)-axis except \(O\) at which both \(X^+\) and \(X^-\) are tangent to the \(x\)-axis. The authors first present some necessary and sufficient conditions under which \(O\) is a crossing \(\Sigma\)-center of the system. Then as an application, they describe the crossing \(\Sigma\)-centers from both the algebra and geometry points of view when both of the two subsystems are linear systems.