English

A note on a recent attempt to solve the second part of Hilbert's 16th Problem

Dynamical Systems 2024-11-15 v1

Abstract

For a given natural number nn, the second part of Hilbert's 16th Problem asks whether there exists a finite upper bound for the maximum number of limit cycles that planar polynomial vector fields of degree nn can have. This maximum number of limit cycle, denoted by H(n)H(n), is called the nnth Hilbert number. It is well-established that H(n)H(n) grows asymptotically as fast as n2lognn^2 \log n. A direct consequence of this growth estimation is that H(n)H(n) cannot be bounded from above by any quadratic polynomial function of nn. Recently, the authors of the paper [Exploring limit cycles of differential equations through information geometry unveils the solution to Hilbert's 16th problem. Entropy, 26(9), 2024] affirmed to have solved the second part of Hilbert's 16th Problem by claiming that H(n)=2(n1)(4(n1)2)H(n) = 2(n - 1)(4(n - 1) - 2). Since this expression is quadratic in nn, it contradicts the established asymptotic behavior and, therefore, cannot hold. In this note, we further explore this issue by discussing some counterexamples.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2411.09594,
  title  = {A note on a recent attempt to solve the second part of Hilbert's 16th Problem},
  author = {Claudio A. Buzzi and Douglas D. Novaes},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2411.09594},
  year   = {2024}
}