Degree, quaternions and periodic solutions.

The paper computes the Brouwer degree of some classes of homogeneous polynomials defined on quaternions and applies the results, together with a continuation theorem of coincidence degree theory, to the existence and multiplicity of periodic solutions of a class of systems of quaternionic valued ordinary differential equations. This article is part of the theme issue 'Topological degree and fixed point theories in differential and difference equations'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]