On some minimal characteristics in a model of a system of N particles with interaction

TL;DR

This paper investigates minimal kinetic energy configurations in N-body systems, proving they occur only on flat, often periodic, trajectories generated by flat central configurations, and explores related size minimization under energy and angular momentum constraints.

Contribution

It introduces a novel analysis of minimal kinetic energy configurations in N-body systems, linking them to flat trajectories and central configurations, with new proofs and insights.

Findings

Minimal kinetic energy occurs only on flat trajectories.

Flat periodic elliptical trajectories are generated by flat central configurations.

Minimum system size and kinetic energy are achieved on these trajectories.

Abstract

For the well-known model of a system of N particles with interaction (N-body problem), we consider the spatial problem of finding the minimum of the function of the kinetic energy of a system on its phase space under conditions on its size and angular momentum. Based on the solution to this problem, we prove that the minimum possible kinetic energy of a system at the current value of its size can be achieved only on flat trajectories of the system. And under some natural additional conditions these trajectories are flat finite and periodic (elliptical) trajectories generated by flat central configurations. The solution to this problem also provides a simpler solution to a similar optimization dual problem of finding the minimum of the size of a system under conditions on its kinetic energy and angular momentum. This leads to a similar result that the minimum possible size of the system at the current value of its kinetic energy can also be achieved only on flat trajectories. Under some additional conditions these trajectories are also flat periodic elliptical trajectories generated by flat central configurations. Next, we consider the more complex spatial problem of finding local minima of the function of the kinetic energy of a system on its phase space at fixed values of the integrals of motion: angular momentum and total energy of a system. Based on the solution of this problem, we prove further that under some natural additional conditions the local minima of the system kinetic and potential energy functions at fixed values of these integrals of motion can be achieved only on flat periodic elliptical trajectories generated by some flat central configurations. And at the points of these local minima the minimum possible kinetic energy of the system at the current value of its size and the minimum possible size of the system at the current value of its kinetic energy are also achieved.