Chaotic dynamics for the two body problem on a sphere

Abstract

We prove the existence of chaotic trajectories for the two body problem on a sphere. The trajectories we construct encounter near-collisions and are similar to the second species solutions of Poincar\'e of the classical 3 body problem. The construction uses a general result on Lagrangian systems with Newtonian singularities of the potential which is based on the method of anti-integrable limit of Serge Aubry.