Multiple closed orbits for <i>N</i>-body-type problems (Q4216655)

The paper deals with the problem \[ m_i{d^2x_i\over dt^2}+ {\partial\over\partial x_i} V(x_1,\dots, x_N)= 0,\quad 1\leq i\leq N,\tag{1} \] \[ {1\over 2} \sum^N_{i= 1} m_i|\dot x_i(t)|^2+ V(x_1(t),\dots, x_N(t))= h,\tag{2} \] where the potential \(V\) has the form \[ V(x)= V(x_1,\dots, x_N)= {1\over 2} \sum_{1\leq i\neq j\leq N} V_{ij}(x_i- x_j), \] with \(x_i\in \mathbb{R}^2\), \(x= (x_1,\dots, x_N)\in (\mathbb{R}^2)^N\), \(V_{ij}\in C^1(\Omega, \mathbb{R})\). For given \(T>0\) the author seeks \(T\)-periodic solutions to (1), (2). He denotes by \(S\) the set \(S= \{t\in [0,T]: x_i(t)= x_j(t)\) for some \(i\neq j\}\) and supposes that if \(x\) is a solution to (1), (2) then \(S\) has measure zero. A solution \(x\) such that \(S\neq\emptyset\) (respectively \(=\emptyset\)) is called a collision (respectively noncollision) solution. Using the equivariant Ljusternik-Schnirelmann theory and precise estimates on the collision solutions and critical values for a variational functional, the author gets some new results in the large concerning multiple periodic solutions of fixed energy. More precisely, he presents conditions under which there exist at least \(2(N- 1)2^{N-2}\) geometrically distinct noncollision periodic solutions to (1), (2).