Kinematic orbits and the structure of the internal space for systems of five or more bodies

Journal Article · Fri Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1999 · Journal of Physics A-Mathematical and General

OSTI ID:841544

Mitchell, Kevin A; Littlejohn, Robert G

The internal space for a molecule, atom, or other n-body system can be conveniently parameterized by 3n - 9 kinematic angles and three hematic invariants. For a fixed set of kinematic invariants, the kinematic angles parameterize a subspace, called a kinematic orbit, of the n-body internal space. Building on an earlier analysis of the three- and four-body problems, we derive the form of these kinematic orbits (that is, their topology) for the general n-body problem. The case n = 5 is studied in detail, along with the previously studied cases n = 3,4.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Director. Office of Science. Office of Basic Energy Sciences (US)
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-76SF00098
• OSTI ID: 841544
• Report Number(s): LBNL-44437; R&D Project: Z41001; TRN: US200515%%262
• Journal Information: Journal of Physics A-Mathematical and General, Vol. 33, Issue 7; Other Information: Submitted to Journal of Physics A-Mathematical and General: Volume 33, No.7; Journal Publication Date: 02/25/2000; PBD: 1 Oct 1999
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
FOUR-BODY PROBLEM
TOPOLOGY
LAWRENCE BERKELEY LABORATORY