Bifurcation of periodic orbits for the $N$-body problem, from a non geometrical family of solutions

TL;DR

This paper discovers a new family of periodic solutions in the $N$-body problem through analytic continuation, revealing bifurcations from known geometrical families and establishing the existence of non-planar solutions for arbitrary masses and bodies.

Contribution

The authors identify a non-geometrical family of solutions and derive an exact bifurcation formula, expanding understanding of periodic orbits in the $N$-body problem.

Findings

Discovery of a new family of periodic solutions not part of the classical geometrical family.

Derivation of an exact bifurcation point formula for these solutions.

Proof of existence of non-planar periodic solutions for arbitrary masses and number of bodies.

Abstract

Given two positive real numbers $M$ and $m$ and an integer $n>2$, it is well known that we can find a family of solutions of the $(n+1)$-body problem where the body with mass $M$ stays put at the origin and the other $n$ bodies, all with the same mass $m$, move on the $x$-$y$ plane following ellipses with eccentri\-city $e$. It is expected that this geometrical family that depends on $e$, has some bifurcations that produce solutions where the body in the center moves on the $z$-axis instead of staying put in the origin. By doing an analytic continuation of a periodic numerical solution of the $4$-body problem --the one displayed on the video http://youtu.be/2Wpv6vpOxXk --we surprisingly discovered that the origin of this periodic solution is not part of the geometrical family of elliptical solutions parametrized by the eccentricity $e$. It comes from a not so geometrical but easier to describe family. Having noticed this new family, the authors find an exact formula for the bifurcation point in this new family and use it to show the existence of a non-planar periodic solution for any pair of masses $M$, $m$, and any integer $n$. As a particular example, we find a solution where three bodies with mass $3$ move around a body with mass $7$ that moves up and down.