Morse index properties of colliding solutions to the \(N\)-body problem (Q930018)

A singular Hamiltonian system with an \(\alpha\)-homogeneous potential is studied. As a particular case it contains the classical \(N\)-body problem. In particular, the authors examine some variational properties of the solution which possesses an isolated collision. A variational Morse-like index for a class of collision solutions is introduced. The idea is to give an estimate on this generalized Morse index by using the asymptotic behavior of such a solution near the collision. Non-minimality of some special classes of colliding trajectories under suitable spectral conditions is proved for \(\alpha\) sufficiently away from zero. The case of small values of \(\alpha\) is also considered.