Compactness and index of ordinary central configurations for the curved \(n\)-body problem (Q2058475)

The curved \(n\)-body problem studies the motion of particles interacting under the cotangent potential in a 3-dimensional sphere and a 3-dimensional hyperbolic sphere. In [J. Nonlinear Sci. 28, No. 5, 1999--2046 (2018; Zbl 1430.70041)], the concept of central configuration to the \(n\)-body problem was established in spaces of constant Gaussian curvature. These are classified as ordinary ones and the special ones. In this paper, the author extends to the curved \(n\)-body problem some results from the Newtonian \(n\)-body problem. He proves that the set of ordinary central configurations is away from singular configurations in the hyperbolic space \(\mathbb{H}^3\) with positive momentum of inertia, and away from a subset of singular configurations in sphere \(\mathbb{S}^3\). In addition, the author uses ideas coming from [\textit{F. R. Moulton}, Ann. Math. (2) 12, 1--17 (1910; JFM 41.0794.02)] and [\textit{F. Pacella}, Arch. Ration. Mech. Anal. 97, 59--74 (1987; Zbl 0627.58013)] to show that there are \(n!/2\) ``collinear'' ordinary central configurations and their Morse index is \(n-2\) in \(\mathbb{H}^3\), which also holds in \(\mathbb{S}^3\) provided that some conditions are satisfied. Also, Palmore's estimations for non-degenerate central configuration are held, namely: there are at least \(\dfrac{(3n-4)(n-1)!}{2}\) ordinary central configurations for given \(n\) masses if all ordinary central configurations of these masses are non-degenerate.