Manuele Santoprete

The n-Body Problem in Spaces of Constant Curvature. Part I: Relative Equilibria

We extend the Newtonian n-body problem of celestial mechanics to spaces of curvature κ=constant and provide a unified framework for studying the motion. In the 2-dimensional case, we prove the existence of several classes of relative equilibria, including the Lagrangian and Eulerian solutions for any κ≠0 and the hyperbolic rotations for κ<0. These results lead to a new way of understanding the geometry of the physical space. In the end we prove Saari’s conjecture when the bodies are on a geodesic that rotates elliptically or hyperbolically.

Seven-body central configurations: a family of central configurations in the spatial seven-body problem

The main result of this paper is the existence of a new family of central configurations in the Newtonian spatial seven-body problem. This family is unusual in that it is a simplex stacked central configuration, i.e the bodies are arranged as concentric three and two dimensional simplexes.

The n -Body Problem in Spaces of Constant Curvature. Part II: Singularities

We analyze the singularities of the equations of motion and several types of singular solutions of the n-body problem in spaces of positive constant curvature. Apart from collisions, the equations encounter noncollision singularities, which occur when two or more bodies are antipodal. This conclusion leads, on the one hand, to hybrid solution singularities for as few as three bodies, whose orbits end up in a collision-antipodal configuration in finite time; on the other hand, it produces nonsingularity collisions, characterized by finite velocities and forces at the collision instant.

Convex Four-Body Central Configurations with Some Equal Masses

We prove that there is an unique convex noncollinear central configuration of the planar Newtonian four-body problem when two equal masses are located at opposite vertices of a quadrilateral and, at most, only one of the remaining masses is larger than the equal masses. Such a central configuration possesses a symmetry line and it is a kite-shaped quadrilateral. We also show that there is exactly one convex noncollinear central configuration when the opposite masses are equal. Such a central configuration also possesses a symmetry line and it is a rhombus.

Central configurations of the five-body problem with equal masses

In this paper we present a complete classification of the isolated central configurations of the five-body problem with equal masses. This is accomplished by using the polyhedral homotopy method to approximate all the isolated solutions of the Albouy-Chenciner equations. The existence of exact solutions, in a neighborhood of the approximated ones, is then verified using the Krawczyk method. Although the Albouy-Chenciner equations for the five-body problem are huge, it is possible to solve them in a reasonable amount of time.

Gravitational and Harmonic Oscillator Potentials on Surfaces of Revolution

In this paper, we consider the motion of a particle on a surface of revolution under the influence of a central force field. We prove that there are at most two analytic central potentials for which all the bounded, nonsingular orbits are closed and that there are exactly two on some surfaces with constant Gaussian curvature. The two potentials leading to closed orbits are suitable generalizations of the gravitational and harmonic oscillator potential. We also show that there could be surfaces admitting only one potential that leads to closed orbits. In this case, the potential is a generalized harmonic oscillator. In the special case of surfaces of revolution with constant Gaussian curvature, we prove a generalization of the well-known Bertrand theorem.

Relative Equilibria in the Four-Vortex Problem with Two Pairs of Equal Vorticities

We examine in detail the relative equilibria in the planar four-vortex problem where two pairs of vortices have equal strength, that is, Γ1=Γ2=1 and Γ3=Γ4=m where

Saari’s homographic conjecture of the three-body problem

m \in \mathbb{R} - \{0\}

Bifurcations of Central Configurations in the Four-Body Problem with Some Equal Masses

is a parameter. One main result is that, for m>0, the convex configurations all contain a line of symmetry, forming a rhombus or an isosceles trapezoid. The rhombus solutions exist for all m but the isosceles trapezoid case exists only when m is positive. In fact, there exist asymmetric convex configurations when m<0. In contrast to the Newtonian four-body problem with two equal pairs of masses, where the symmetry of all convex central configurations is unproven, the equations in the vortex case are easier to handle, allowing for a complete classification of all solutions. Precise counts on the number and type of solutions (equivalence classes) for different values of m, as well as a description of some of the bifurcations that occur, are provided. Our techniques involve a combination of analysis, and modern and computational algebraic geometry.

Block Regularization of the Kepler Problem on Surfaces of Revolution with Positive Constant Curvature.

Saaris homographic conjecture, which extends a classical statement proposed by Donald Saari in 1970, claims that solutions of the Newtonian n-body problem with constant configurational measure are homographic. In other words, if the mutual distances satisfy a certain relationship, the configuration of the particle system may change size and position but not shape. We prove this conjecture for large sets of initial conditions in three-body problems given by homogeneous potentials, including the Newtonian one. Some of our results are true for n > 3.