Total collision with slow convergence to a degenerate central configuration (Q6069627)
From MaRDI portal
scientific article; zbMATH DE number 7765038
Language | Label | Description | Also known as |
---|---|---|---|
English | Total collision with slow convergence to a degenerate central configuration |
scientific article; zbMATH DE number 7765038 |
Statements
Total collision with slow convergence to a degenerate central configuration (English)
0 references
14 November 2023
0 references
For total collision solutions of the \(n\)-body problem, \textit{J. Chazy} [Bull. Astr. 35, 321--389 (1916, 1918; JFM 46.1385.07)] showed that the overall size of the configuration converges to zero with asymptotic rate proportional to \(|T-t|^{\frac{2}{3}}\) where \(T\) is the collision time. He also showed that the shape of the configuration converges to the shape of central configurations. If the limiting central configuration is \textbf{nondegenerate}, the rate of convergence of the shape is of order \(\mathcal(|T-t|^{p})\) for some \(p>0\). In this study, the author shows (Theorem 1) that in the planar four-body problem there exist total collision solutions whose shape converges to the shape of a \textbf{degenerate} central configuration at the rate proportional to \(-1/\ln|T-t|\). Theorem 1 follows from another result (Theorem 2 in the paper) about solutions in a blown-up and rotation-reduced phase space. Namely, the auhtor uses McGehee's blow-up technique and a careful center manifold reduction on the invariant \textit{total collision manifold} to prove Theorem 2. The key ingredient in his proof is the assumption of Palmore's \textbf{degeneracy}. The computations are straightforward, but certain parts are tedious, requiring Wolfram Mathematica.
0 references
planar four-body problem
0 references
limiting central configuration
0 references
McGehee blow-up method
0 references
center manifold reduction
0 references
invariant total collision manifold
0 references