We consider here the classical question of finiteness (see Smale [13] and Wintner [15]) – given n point masses, is the corresponding number of central configurations finite? We prove finiteness for a particular family of d-dimensional symmetrical configurations of d+2 point masses. Also, we study the bifurcations of these configurations and provide the exact number of central configurations when d=2, 3. All our results stem from the application of a new method for studying symmetrical classes of central configurations, which is presented in this work.
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(Accepted September 23, 2002) Published online February 14, 2003
Communicated by P. Rabinowitz
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Leandro, E. Finiteness and Bifurcations of some Symmetrical Classes of Central Configurations. Arch. Rational Mech. Anal. 167, 147–177 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00205-002-0241-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00205-002-0241-6