A cubic differential system with nine limit cycles

Advances in Computer Algebra software have made calculations possible that were previously intractable. Our particular interest is in the investigation of limit cycles of nonlinear differential equations. We describe some recent developments in handling very large computations involving resultants and present an example of a nonlinear differential system of degree three with nine small amplitude limit cycles surrounding a focus. We know of no examples of cubic systems with more than this number bifurcating from a fine focus, as opposed to a centre. Our example appears to be the first to have been obtained without recourse to some numerical calculation.