The problem of two fixed centers was introduced by Euler as early as in 1760. It plays an important role both in celestial mechanics and in the microscopic world. In the present paper we study the spatial problem in the case of arbitrary (both positive and negative) strengths of the centers. Combining techniques from scattering theory and Liouville integrability, we show that this spatial problem has topologically non-trivial scattering dynamics, which we identify as scattering monodromy. The approach that we introduce in this paper applies more generally to scattering systems that are integrable in the Liouville sense.
The quantum problem of an electron moving in a plane under the field created by two Coulombian centers admits simple analytical solutions for some particular inter-center distances. These elementary eigenfunctions, akin to those found by Demkov for the analogous three dimensional problem, are calculated using the framework of quasi-exact solvability of a pair of entangled ODEs descendants from the Heun equation. A different but interesting situation arises when the two centers have the same strength. In this case completely elementary solutions do not exist.
Problem solutions in area of diffraction and of scattering theory are considered from one point of view. The method common for them is based on approximate orthogonality of solution constituents, which oscillate on a body long frontier. Method potentiality is discussed.
A trajectory isomorphism between the two Newtonian fixed center problem in the sphere and two associated planar two fixed center problems is constructed by performing two simultaneous gnomonic projections in $S^2$. This isomorphism converts the original quadratures into elliptic integrals and allows the bifurcation diagram of the spherical problem to be analyzed in terms of the corresponding ones of the planar systems. The dynamics along the orbits in the different regimes for the problem in $S^2$ is expressed in terms of Jacobi elliptic functions.
The invariant theory of Killing tensors (ITKT) is extended by introducing the new concepts of covariants and joint invariants of (product) vector spaces of Killing tensors defined in pseudo-Riemannian spaces of constant curvature. The covariants are employed to solve the problem of classification of the orthogonal coordinate webs generated by non-trivial Killing tensors of valence two defined in the Euclidean and Minkowski planes. Illustrative examples are provided.
In this thesis new objects to the existing set of invariants of Lie algebras are added. These invariant characteristics are capable of describing the nilpotent parametric continuum of Lie algebras. The properties of these invariants, in view of possible alternative classifications of Lie algebras, are formulated and their behaviour on known lower--dimensional Lie algebras investigated. It is demonstrated that these invariants, in view of their application on graded contractions of sl(3,C), are also effective in higher dimensions. A necessary contraction criterion involving these invariants is derived and applied to lower--dimensional cases. Possible application of these invariant characteristics to Jordan algebras is investigated.