Distributions of points on non-extensible closed curves in \(\mathbb{R}^3\) realizing maximum energies (Q6157848)

Let \(G_n\) be a non-extensible, flexible closed curve of length \(n\) in the 3-space \(\mathbb{R}^3\) with \(n\) points \(A_1, \ldots, A_n\) evenly spaced (according to the arc length of \(G_n\)) on the curve. Let \(\mathcal{G}_n\) be the union of all such \(G_n\). Let \(f : (0,\infty)\rightarrow \mathbb{R}\) be an increasing and continuous function. Define an energy function \[ E^f_n(G_n)=\sum_{p<q} f(|A_p A_q|), \] where \(|A_p A_q|\) is the Euclidean distance between \(A_p\) and \(A_q\) in \(\mathbb{R}^3\). The authors address the problem: What is the shape of \(G_n\) where \(E^f_n(G_n)\) reaches a maximum? They show the following: (i) The maximum of \(E^f_n\) exists in \(\mathcal{G}_n\). (ii) Each maximum point of \(E^f_n\) is a (possibly degenerate) convex \(n\)-gon with each edge of length 1. (iii) Define \(f(t)=t^\alpha\) and denote the energy in this special case by \(E^\alpha_n\). Let \(\Gamma_n\) to denote the set of all convex \(n\)-gons with each edge of length 1. In the special case \(\alpha \le 2\) and \(n\ge 5\) the authors show that the maximizers of \(E^\alpha_n(\Gamma_n)\) are regular \(n\)-gons.