On the number of zeros of Melnikov functions (Q650977)

The authors provide an effective uniform bound for the number of zeros of the first non-zero Melnikov function of polynomial perturbations of a planar polynomial Hamiltonian vector fields. The bound depends on degrees of the field and of the perturbation, and on the order of the Melnikov function. The bound follows from an effective construction of the Gauss-Manin connection for iterated integrals.