On the planar central configurations of rhomboidal and triangular four- and five-body problems

Abstract

We consider a symmetric five-body problem with three unequal collinear masses on the axis of symmetry. The remaining two masses are symmetrically placed on both sides of the axis of symmetry. Regions of possible central configurations are derived for the four- and five-body problems. These regions are determined analytically and explored numerically. The equations of motion are regularized using Levi-Civita type transformations and then the phase space is investigated for chaotic and periodic orbits by means of Poincar\'e surface of sections.