On the period function of Newtonian systems

Abstract

We study the existence of centers of planar autonomous system of the form $$(S) \quad \dot x=y,\qquad \dot y = -h(x) - g(x)y - f(x)y^2.$$ We are interested in the period function $T$ around a center 0. A sufficient condition for the isochronicity of (S) at 0 is given. Such a condition is also necessary when $f,g,h$ are analytic functions. In that case a characterization of isochronous centers of system (S) is given. Some applications will be derived. In particular, new families of isochronous centers will be described