Related papers: On the eigenvalues of a central configuration
We introduce an algebraic method to study local stability in the Newtonian $n$-body problem when certain symmetries are present. We use representation theory of groups to simplify the calculations of certain eigenvalue problems. The method…
Central configurations give rise to self-similar solutions to the Newtonian $N$-body problem, and play important roles in understanding its complicated dynamics. Even the simple question of whether or not there are finitely many planar…
As an application of the representation theory for the dihedral groups, we study the symmetric central configurations in the n-body problem where $n$ equal masses are placed at the vertices of a regular $n$-gon. Since the Hessian matrices…
Using geometric mechanics methods, we examine aspects of the dynamics of n mass points in $\mathbb{R}^4$ with a general pairwise potential. We investigate the central force problem, set up the n-body problem and discuss certain properties…
We give a self-contained modern linear stability analysis of a system of n equal mass bodies in circular orbit about a single more massive body. Starting with the mathematical description of the dynamics of the system, we form the linear…
The Newtonian n-Body Problem is modified assuming positive inertial masses but different sign for the interacting force which is assumed with the possibility of two different signs for the gravitational masses, according to the prescription…
Central configurations play a fundamental role in the Newtonian $n$-body problem, as they give rise to motions in which the configuration evolves while preserving its shape up to rotation and scaling. These include relative equilibria,…
We consider an isolated system made of two pointlike bodies interacting at a distance in the nonradiative approximation. Our framework is the covariant and a priori Hamiltonian formalism of "predictive relativistic mechanics", founded on…
In this paper, we consider the elliptic relative equilibria of four-body problem with two infinitesimal masses. The most interesting case is when the two small masses tend to the same Lagrangian point $L_4$ (or $L_5$). In \cite{Xia}, Z. Xia…
We give a computer assisted proof of the full listing of central configuration for $n$-body problem for Newtonian potential on the plane for $n=5,6,7$ with equal masses. We show all these central configurations have a reflective symmetry…
A solvable many-body problem in the plane is exhibited. It is characterized by rotation-invariant Newtonian (``acceleration equal force'') equations of motion, featuring one-body (``external'') and pair (``interparticle'') forces. The…
Central configurations and relative equilibria are an important facet of the study of the $N$-body problem, but become very difficult to rigorously analyze for $N>3$. In this paper we focus on a particular but interesting class of…
We study the bifurcations of central configurations of the Newtonian four-body problem when some of the masses are equal. First, we continue numerically the solutions for the equal mass case, and we find values of the mass parameter at…
For the Newtonian (gravitational) $n$-body problem in the Euclidean $d$-dimensional space, the simplest possible solutions are provided by those rigid motions (homographic solutions) in which each body moves along a Keplerian orbit and the…
The primary purpose of this note is to prove two recent conjectures concerning the $n$ body matrix that arose in recent papers of Escobar-Ruiz, Miller, and Turbiner on the classical and quantum $n$ body problem in $d$-dimensional space.…
We consider the critical points (equilibria) of a planar potential generated by $n$ Newtonian point masses augmented with a quadratic term (such as arises from a centrifugal effect). Particular cases of this problem have been considered…
We consider the $n$ body problem defined on surfaces of constant positive curvature. For the 5 and 7 body problem in a collinear symmetric configuration we obtain initial positions which lead to relative equilibria. We give explicitly the…
Several N-body problems in ordinary (3-dimensional) space are introduced which are characterized by Newtonian equations of motion (``acceleration equal force;'' in most cases, the forces are velocity-dependent) and are amenable to exact…
We generalize the Newtonian n-body problem to spaces of curvature k=constant, and study the motion in the 2-dimensional case. For k>0, the equations of motion encounter non-collision singularities, which occur when two bodies are antipodal.…
A previous work introduced pair space, which is spanned by the center of mass of a system and the relative positions (pair positions) of its constituent bodies. Here, I show that in the $N$-body Newtonian problem, a configuration that does…