Collision trajectories and regularisation of two-body problem on \(S^2\) (Q6115700)

In this paper, collision trajectories for the two-body problem on a sphere are considered. Also, the near collision trajectories via blow-up are investigated. The specific case with two identical bodies is analyzed, but, as the authors point out, ``our analysis can be carried out, `mutatis mutandis', for general values of the masses''. In Section 2, the equations of motion of two free bodies on the sphere that interact with an attracting force are recalled. Using a particular potential, the system studied in this paper is obtained. Further, two types of trajectories are defined, namely collision trajectory and antipodal singularity. In Section 3, the above-mentioned trajectories are analyzed. Among others, it is proved that no trajectories leading to antipodal collisions exist. Sixteen preliminary results allow to prove the main result, namely for an initial datum \(D\) that corresponds to collision trajectories, the omega-limit set \(\omega(D)\) is a singleton. In Section 4, the case where two bodies are restricted to move on a great circle is considered. Moreover, the dynamics on the blow-up sphere is investigated. For this, two charts are utilized. The number and types of equilibria on both charts are determined and the dynamics of all variables near the exceptional divisor is described. In Section 5, some related directions of research are indicated.