Syzygy sequences of the three-center problem (Q6997166)

The paper proves the existence of realizable syzygy sequences in the three-center problem,\N\[\N\ddot z = - \frac{m_1(z+d)}{\vert z + d\vert^3} - \frac{m_2z}{\vert z\vert^3} - \frac{m_3(z-1)}{\vert z-1\vert^3},\N\]\Nwhere \(z = (x,y)\in {\mathbb R}^2\), \(0<d\leq 1\), \(m_1>0\), \(m_2>0\), and \(m_3>0\). The three centers, located at \(-d\), \(0\), and \(1\) on the horizontal axis, divide the horizontal axis into four windows \(w_1 = (-\infty,d)\), \(w_2 = (d,0)\), \(w_3 = (0,1)\), and \(w_4 = (1,\infty)\). For an integer \(\ell\geq 2\), the finite sequence \(s =(s_1,\dots,s_\ell)\in \{1,2,3,4\}^\ell\) is a syzygy sequence of length \(\ell\) if \(s_i \ne s_{i+1}\), \(i=1,\dots,\ell-1\). A syzygy sequence \(s\) of length \(\ell\) is realizable if there exist \(t_1<t_2<\cdots<t_{\ell}\) and a solution \(z(t) = (x(t),y(t))\) of the three-center problem such that \(x(t_i) \in w_i\) for all \(i=1,2,\dots,\ell\), and \(y(t)\ne 0\) for all \(t\in \cup_{i-1}^{\ell-1}(t_i,t_{i+1})\). A syzygy sequence \(s\) is non-consecutive if \(\vert s_j - s_{j+1}\vert \geq 2\) for all \(j=1,2,\dots,\ell-1\). The first main result is: All non-consecutive syzygy sequences are realizable; specifically, for each non-consecutive \(s\) of length \(\ell\), and for all \(T\) satisfying\N\[\NT > \frac{3\sqrt{3} m (\ell-1)\pi}{\sqrt{2}( \min\{ B_{13},B_{24}\})^{3/2}},\N\]\Nwhere \(m=m_1+m_2+m_3\),\N\[\NB_{13} = \frac{ (\sqrt{m_1}+\sqrt{m_2})^2}{d} + \frac{m_3}{1+d}\N\]\Nand\N\[\NB_{24} = (\sqrt{m_2}+\sqrt{m_3})^2 + \frac{m_1}{1+d},\N\]\Nthere exists a \(2T\)-periodic solution \(z(t) = (x(t),y(t))\) of the three-center problem which realizes \(s\) and satisfies: (i) \(z(t)\) is collision-free, (ii) there exists \(0=t_1<t_2<\cdots<t_\ell=T\) such that \(x(t_i)\in w_i\) for all \(i=1,2,\dots,\ell\), (iii) for each \(i=1,2,\dots,\ell-1\), \(z(t)\) restricted to \([t_i,t_{i+1}]\) is free of self-intersections, (iv) \(z(t)\) is perpendicular to the horizontal axis at \(t=0\) and \(t=T\), and (v) \(x(T+t) = x(T-t)\) and \(y(T+t) = - y(T-t)\) for all \(t\in[0,T]\). The second main result is: there are at least \(F_{\ell+2} + N_2^\ell + N_3^\ell\) realizable syzygy sequences of length \(\ell\), where \(F_k\) is the Fibonacci sequence, \(N_2^\ell\) is the number of realizable syzygy sequences involving two-consecutive windows, e.g., \((1,2)\), \((2,3)\), \((3,4)\), \((2,1)\), \((3,2)\) and \((4,3)\), and \(=N_3^\ell\) is the number of realizable syzygy sequences involving three-consecutive windows \((1,2,3)\), \((2,3,4)\), \((3,2,1)\), and \((4,3,2)\). Explicit formulas are given for \(N^\ell_2\) and \(N^\ell_3\).