State the Poincaré-Bendixson theorem for two-dimensional dynamical systems.
A dynamical system can be written in polar coordinates (r,θ) as
r˙=r−r3(1+αcosθ)θ˙=1−r2βcosθ
where α and β are constants with 0<α<1.
Show that trajectories enter the annulus (1+α)−1/2<r<(1−α)−1/2.
Show that if there is a fixed point (r0,θ0) inside the annulus then r02=(β−α)/β and cosθ0=1/(β−α).
Use the Poincaré-Bendixson theorem to derive conditions on β that guarantee the existence of a periodic orbit.