A quadratic system with two parallel straight-line-isoclines

In this paper, a quadratic system with two parallel straight-line-isoclines is considered. This system corresponds to the system of class II in the classification of Ye Yanqian [Ye Yanqian et al., Theory of Limit Cycles, Transl. Math. Monogr., vol. 66, American Mathematical Society, Providence, RI, 1986]. Using the field rotation parameters of the constructed canonical system and geometric properties of the spirals filling the interior and exterior domains of its limit cycles, we prove that the maximum number of limit cycles in a quadratic system with two parallel straight-line-isoclines and two finite singular points is equal to two. Besides, we obtain the same result in a different way: applying the Wintner–Perko termination principle for multiple limit cycles and using the methods of global bifurcation theory developed in [V.A. Gaiko, Global Bifurcation Theory and Hilbert’s Sixteenth Problem, Kluwer, Boston, 2003].     

On the geometry of polynomial dynamical systems

In this paper, the author performs a global qualitative study of plane polynomial dynamical systems and suggests a new geometric approach to solving the sixteenth Hilbert problem on the maximum number and mutual location of their limit cycles in two special cases of such systems. First of all, using the geometric properties of four parameters rotating the vector field of a new canonical system constructed in the paper, the author proposes the proof of his early conjecture, which asserts that the maximum number of limit cycles of an arbitrary quadratic system is equal to 4, and their location (3: 1) is uniquely possible [4]. Then using the same geometric approach, the author solves the primary problem for the polynomial Liénard system (in this special case, it is considered as the thirteenth Smale problem), and generalizing the obtained results, the author formulates the theorem on the maximum number of limit cycles enclosing one singular point in the case of a polynomial system. Moreover, applying the Wintner-Perko termination principle for multiple limit cycles, the author develops an alternative approach to solving the sixteenth Hilbert problem, and using this approach, the author completes the global qualitative study of a general cubic Liénard system having three singular points in the finite part of the plane. In conclusion, the author discusses one more known approach to solving the sixteenth Hilbert problem. Translated from Sovremennaya Matematika i Ee Prilozheniya (Contemporary Mathematics and Its Applications), Vol. 53, Suzdal Conference-2006, Part 1, 2008.     

Symbolic computation of limit cycles associated with Hilbert’s 16th problem

This paper is concerned with the practical complexity of the symbolic computation of limit cycles associated with Hilbert’s 16th problem. In particular, in determining the number of small-amplitude limit cycles of a non-linear dynamical system, one often faces computing the focus values of Hopf-type critical points and solving lengthy coupled polynomial equations. These computations must be carried out through symbolic computation with the aid of a computer algebra system such as Maple or Mathematica, and thus usually gives rise to very large algebraic expressions. In this paper, efficient computations for the focus values and polynomial equations are discussed, showing how to deal with the complexity in the computation of non-linear dynamical systems.     

The planar discontinuous piecewise linear refracting systems have at most one limit cycle

In this paper we investigate the limit cycles of planar piecewise linear differential systems with two zones separated by a straight line. It is well known that when these systems are continuous they can exhibit at most one limit cycle, while when they are discontinuous the question about maximum number of limit cycles that they can exhibit is still open. For these last systems there are examples exhibiting three limit cycles.The aim of this paper is to study the number of limit cycles for a special kind of planar discontinuous piecewise linear differential systems with two zones separated by a straight line which are known as refracting systems. First we obtain the existence and uniqueness of limit cycles for refracting systems of focus-node type. Second we prove that refracting systems of focus–focus type have at most one limit cycle, thus we give a positive answer to a conjecture on the uniqueness of limit cycle stated by Freire, Ponce and Torres in Freire et al. (2013). These two results complete the proof that any refracting system has at most one limit cycle.     

The coarse Baum–Connes conjecture via coarse geometry

The C₀ coarse structure on a metric space is a refinement of the bounded structure and is closely related to the topology of the space. In this paper we will prove the C₀ version of the coarse Baum–Connes conjecture and show that K_*(C^*X₀) is a topological invariant for a broad class of metric spaces. Using this result we construct a ‘geometric’ obstruction group to the coarse Baum–Connes conjecture for the bounded coarse structure. We then show under the assumption of finite asymptotic dimension that the obstructions vanish, and hence we obtain a new proof of the coarse Baum–Connes conjecture in this context.     

Algebraic limit cycles of degree 4 for quadratic systems

Yablonskii (Differential Equations 2 (1996) 335) and Filipstov (Differential Equations 9 (1973) 983) proved the existence of two different families of algebraic limit cycles of degree 4 in the class of quadratic systems. It was an open problem to know if these two algebraic limit cycles where all the algebraic limit cycles of degree 4 for quadratic systems. Chavarriga (A new example of a quartic algebraic limit cycle for quadratic sytems, Universitat de Lleida, Preprint 1999) found a third family of this kind of algebraic limit cycles. Here, we prove that quadratic systems have exactly four different families of algebraic limit cycles. The proof provides new tools based on the index theory for algebraic solutions of polynomial vector fields.     

Geometric separation and exact solutions for the parameterized independent set problem on disk graphs

We consider the parameterized problem, whether for a given set  of n disks (of bounded radius ratio) in the Euclidean plane there exists a set of k non-intersecting disks. For this problem, we expose an algorithm running in time that is—to our knowledge—the first algorithm with running time bounded by an exponential with a sublinear exponent. For λ-precision disk graphs of bounded radius ratio, we show that the problem is fixed parameter tractable with a running time  . The results are based on problem kernelization and a new “geometric ( -separator) theorem” which holds for all disk graphs of bounded radius ratio. The presented algorithm then performs, in a first step, a “geometric problem kernelization” and, in a second step, uses divide-and-conquer based on our new “geometric separator theorem.”     

A new proof of Faber?s intersection number conjecture

We give a new proof of Faber?s intersection number conjecture concerning the top intersections in the tautological ring of the moduli space of curves Mg. The proof is based on a very straightforward geometric and combinatorial computation with double ramification cycles.     

Liénard systems for quadratic systems with invariant algebraic curves

We study the character of the friction function f(x) and the restoring force g(x) in the Liénard system to which a quadratic system with an invariant second-order algebraic curve (an ellipse that is a limit cycle, a hyperbola defining two separatrix cycles, or a parabola) or fourth-order algebraic curve with an oval being a limit cycle can be reduced. Invariant curves are constructed for quadratic systems in a five-parameter canonical family, which can readily be reduced to Liénard systems.