On linearizability via nonlocal transformations and first integrals for second-order ordinary differential equations

Abstract: Nonlinear second-order ordinary differential equations are common in various fields of science, such as physics, mechanics and biology. Here we provide a new family of integrable second-order ordinary differential equations by considering the general case of a linearization problem via certain nonlocal transformations. In addition, we show that each equation from the linearizable family admits a transcendental first integral and study particular cases when this first integral is autonomous or rational. Thus, as a byproduct of solving this linearization problem we obtain a classification of second-order differential equations admitting a certain transcendental first integral. To demonstrate effectiveness of our approach, we consider several examples of autonomous and non-autonomous second order differential equations, including generalizations of the Duffing and Van der Pol oscillators, and construct their first integrals and general solutions. We also show that the corresponding first integrals can be used for finding periodic solutions, including limit cycles, of the considered equations.