The third order Melnikov function of a quadratic center under quadratic perturbations (Q879128)

This paper deals with systems of the form \[ \begin{cases} \dot x=-y(1+x)-\varepsilon P(x,y),\\ \dot y=x(1+x)+\varepsilon Q(x,y), \end{cases}\tag{\(1_\varepsilon\)} \] where \(\varepsilon >0\) and \(P\) and \(Q\) are polynomials of degree two. The unperturbed system (\(1_0\)) has a center at the origin and the ``energy'' function \(H(x,y)=\frac{1}{2}(x^2+y^2)\) is a first integral of it. Using the energy level \(h\) as a parameter, the authors expand the displacement function in a power series in \(\varepsilon\) at the origin, whose coefficients \(M_i(h)\), \(i=1,\ldots\) are the ``Melnikov functions'' of order \(i\). The main result deals with the maximum number of zeros of \(M_i\), \(i=1,2,3\). Also it is shown how these \(M_i\)'s can be computed explicitly. A consequence is drawn about the maximum number of limit cycles of (\(1_\varepsilon\)) bifurcating from the set of periodic orbits of (\(1_0\)).