To what extent are unstable the maxima of the potential? (Q2196659): Difference between revisions

In this paper, it is proved that there is a \(C^\infty(\mathbb{R}^2,\mathbb{R})\) function \(V\) such that \((0,0)\) is a global maximum point of \(V\), \(\nabla V(q)\not=(0,0)\) for all \(q\not=(0,0)\) and the Newtonian system of equations \(\ddot q=-\nabla V(q),q\in\mathbb{R}^2\) has a sequence \(q_n\) of nontrivial periodic solutions with the property \(\max\limits_{t\in\mathbb{R}}(\|q_n(t)\|+\|\dot q_n(t)\|)\to 0\) as \(n\to\infty.\) In fact, the author provides a construction of such a function \(V\). He also gives an example of a Newtonian system for which a global maximum of the potential is not unstable in sense of \textit{C. L. Siegel} and \textit{J. K. Moser} [Lectures on celestial mechanics. Transl. from the German by C. I. Kalme. Reprint of the 1971 ed. Berlin: Springer-Verlag (1995; Zbl 0817.70001)].