The 16th Problem of Hilbert is one of the most famous remaining unsolved problems of mathematics. It concerns whether a polynomial vector field on the plane has a finite number of limit cycles. There is a strong connection with divergent solutions of differential equations, where a central role is played by the Stokes Phenomenon, the change in asymptotic behaviour of the solutions in different sectors of the complex plane.The contributions to these proceedings survey both of these themes, including historical and modern theoretical points of view. Topics covered include the Riemann-Hilbert problem, Painleve equations, nonlinear Stokes phenomena, and the inverse Galois problem.

This volume is the record of a workshop on differential equations and the Stokes phenomenon, held in May 2001 at the University of Groningen. It contains expanded versions of most of the lectures given at the workshop. To a large extent, both the workshop and the book may be regarded as a sequel to a conference held in Groningen in 1995 which resulted in the book The Stokes Phenomenon and Hilbert's 16th Problem (B L J Braaksma, G K Immink and M van der Put, editors), also published by World Scientific (1996).Both books offer a snapshot concerning the state of the art in the areas of differential, difference and q-difference equations. Apart from the asymptotics of solutions, Painlevé properties and the algebraic theory, new topics addressed in the second book include arithmetic theory of linear equations, and Galois theory and Lie symmetries of nonlinear differential equations.

Offers a snapshot concerning the state of the art in the areas of differential, difference and q-difference equations.

In 2008, November 23-28, the workshop of ”Classical Problems on Planar Polynomial Vector Fields ” was held in the Banff International Research Station, Canada. Called "classical problems", it was concerned with the following: (1) Problems on integrability of planar polynomial vector fields. (2) The problem of the center stated by Poincaré for real polynomial differential systems, which asks us to recognize when a planar vector field defined by polynomials of degree at most n possesses a singularity which is a center. (3) Global geometry of specific classes of planar polynomial vector fields. (4) Hilbert’s 16th problem. These problems had been posed more than 110 years ago. Therefore, they are called "classical problems" in the studies of the theory of dynamical systems. The qualitative theory and stability theory of differential equations, created by Poincaré and Lyapunov at the end of the 19th century, had major developments as two branches of the theory of dynamical systems during the 20th century. As a part of the basic theory of nonlinear science, it is one of the very active areas in the new millennium. This book presents in an elementary way the recent significant developments in the qualitative theory of planar dynamical systems. The subjects are covered as follows: the studies of center and isochronous center problems, multiple Hopf bifurcations and local and global bifurcations of the equivariant planar vector fields which concern with Hilbert’s 16th problem. The book is intended for graduate students, post-doctors and researchers in dynamical systems. For all engineers who are interested in the theory of dynamical systems, it is also a reasonable reference. It requires a minimum background of a one-year course on nonlinear differential equations.

Proceedings of the Nato Advanced Study Institute, held in Montreal, Canada, from 8 to 19 July 2002

'MathPhys Odyssey 2001' will serve as an excellent reference text for mathematical physicists and graduate students in a number of areas.; Kashiwara/Miwa have a good track record with both SV and Birkhauser.