On the algebraic difference equations \(u_{n+2}+u_{n}=\psi (u_{n+1})\) in \(\mathbb R\), related to a family of elliptic quartics in the plane (Q865301)

The authors investigate the difference equation \[ u_{n+2}+u_n =\frac{\alpha+\beta u_{n+1}}{1+u_{n+1}^2}, \tag{*} \] together with the associated dynamical system \(F_{\alpha\beta}\): \(x_{n+1}=-y_n-\frac{\alpha+\beta x_n}{1+x_n^2},\) \(y_{n+1}=x_n\), and the system of invariant curves \(G_{\alpha\beta}(x,y)=x^2y^2+x^2+y^2-\beta xy+\alpha(x+y)=K\). First, conditions on \(\alpha,\beta\) are given which guarantee that \(F_{\alpha\beta}\) has a unique fixed point which is the minimum of \(G_{\alpha\beta}\). Then the case \(\alpha=0\), \(| \beta| \leq 2\) is studied in detail. Using the parametrization of \(G_{\alpha\beta}\) by Weierstrass' elliptic functions, it is shown that solutions of (*) behave similarly, in a certain sense, as in the multiplicative case \(u_{n+2}u_n =\frac{\alpha+\beta u_{n+1}}{1+u_{n+1}^2}\), which has been studied in the recent authors paper [Adv. Difference Equ. 3, 227--261 (2005; Zbl 1100.39003)].