Algebraic and analytical tools for the study of the period function

In this paper we consider analytic planar differential systems having a first integral of the form H(x, y) = A(x) + B(x)y + C(x)y2 and an integrating factor κ(x) not depending on y. Our aim is to provide tools to study the period function of the centers of this type of differential system and to this end we prove three results. Theorem A gives a characterization of isochronicity, a criterion to bound the number of critical periods and a necessary condition for the period function to be monotone. Theorem B is intended for being applied in combination with Theorem A in an algebraic setting that we shall specify. Finally, Theorem C is devoted to study the number of critical periods bifurcating from the period annulus of an isochrone perturbed linearly inside a family of centers. Four different applications are given to illustrate these results.