Unchained polygons and the N -body problem

DOI10.1134/S1560354709010079zbMATH Open1229.70035arXiv0807.0427OpenAlexW2159820875MaRDI QIDQ653214FDOQ653214

Authors: Alain Chenciner, Jacques Féjoz 

Publication date: 9 January 2012

Published in: Regular and Chaotic Dynamics (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: The simplest solutions of the N-body problem --symmetric relative equilibria-- are shown to be organizing centers from which stem some recently studied classes of periodic solutions. We focus on the relative equilibrium of the equal-mass regular N-gon, assumed horizontal, and study the families of Lyapunov quasi-periodic solutions bifurcating from them in the vertical direction. The proof of the local existence of such solutions relies on the fact that the restriction to the corresponding directions of the quadratic part of the energy is positive definite. We then discuss the possibility of continuing the families globally as action minimizers under symmetry constraints by using the fact that, in rotating frames where they become periodic, these solutions are highly symmetric. The paradigmatic examples are the "Eight" families for an odd number of bodies and the "Hip-Hop" families for an even number. We argue that it is precisely for these two families that global minimization may be used. We also study the relation with the regular N-gon, of the so-called "chain" choreographies (see C. Sim'o, New families of Solutions in N-Body Problems, Progr. Math. 201, 2001): here, only a local minimization property is true (except for N=3) and moreover the parity plays a deciding role, in particular through the value of the angular momentum.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/0807.0427

Recommendations

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• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 1944709

zbMATH Keywords

symmetry\(n\)-body problemrelative equilibriumaction minimizationLyapunov familyperiodic and quasiperiodic solutions

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Periodic solutions to ordinary differential equations (34C25) (n)-body problems (70F10)

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Cited In (13)

• The equation for the vertical variations of a relative equilibrium as a source of new periodic solutions of the \(N\) body problem.
• Spatial double choreographies of the Newtonian \(2n\)-body problem
• Choreographies in the \(n\)-vortex problem
• Symmetries and choreographies in families that bifurcate from the polygonal relative equilibrium of the \(n\)-body problem
• Relative periodic solutions of the \(N\)-vortex problem via the variational method
• Connecting planar linear chains in the spatial \(N\)-body problem
• From the Lagrange polygon to the figure eight. I: Numerical evidence extending a conjecture of Marchal
• Torus knot choreographies in the \(n\)-body problem
• On the vertical libration of Maxwell's ring configuration with a Manev potential
• The Lagrange reduction of the \(n\)-body problem, a survey
• Mathematical algorithm for solving two-body problem
• Simple choreographies of the planar Newtonian \(N\)-body problem
• Star pentagon and many stable choreographic solutions of the Newtonian 4-body problem

Uses Software

• GSL

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