Some remarks on polynomial vector fields in $\RR^2$

Abstract

In this paper, we study planar polynomial vector fields admitting invariant circles. We characterize polynomial vector fields having $m$ concentric invariant circles, and we describe those having three invariant circles whose centers are not collinear. We also give a necessary and sufficient condition for the unit circle to be the unique limit cycle of a quadratic vector field. We prove that a cubic or quartic Kolmogorov vector field having the unit circle invariant has no circular limit cycle, and that a quartic vector field with two concentric circular limit cycles has at most three circular limit cycles, this bound being sharp.

arXiv comment11 pages