Center conditions and limit cycles for the perturbation of an elliptic sector (Q843113)

The author considers the planar system \[ \begin{cases} \dot x= y-2x^2-\eta, \\ \dot y= -2xy \end{cases}\tag{1} \] (with some \(\eta>0\)) and studies the Melnikov functions associated to its center \((0,\eta)\) and its quadratic polynomial perturbations. System (1) is integrable with first integral \[ H(x,y)=\frac{x^2-y+\eta/2}{y^2}. \] This expression of the first integral is valid also in the case \(\eta=0\) when the singular point \((0,0)\) has an elliptic domain. One of the main results is the following: Theorem. The first Melnikov function, denoted by \(M_1\), has at most two zeros in the interval \((-1/2\eta, 0)\), taking into account their multiplicities. If \(M_1\equiv 0\) then the second Melnikov function \(M_2\) has at most two zeros on the same interval. If \(M_2\equiv 0\) then the third Melnikov function \(M_3\) has at most two zeros on the same interval. The proof of this theorem is based on Françoise's algorithm and involves lengthy calculations. The algebraic nature of higher order Melnikov functions is also analysed. As a consequence it is deduced that all Melnikov functions \(M_k\), \(k\geq 1\) can be written as polynomials in \(\sqrt{(-h)}\). The final section of this nice paper is dedicated to establish a relation between a particular Abel equation studied by Liouville and system (1) with \(\eta=0\).