A constant of the motion for the two‐centre Kepler problem

Abstract

AbstractThe one‐centre Coulombic potential gives rise, in non‐relativistic mechanics, to additional constants of the motion which form the components of the Runge–Lenz vector. By a study of this vector, an extra constant of the motion is derived for the corresponding two‐centre problem. The result holds quite generally in a space of arbitrary dimension and is applicable to both classical and quantum mechanics; but breaks down when relativistic corrections, which destroy the extra symmetry of the one‐centre Coulombic potential, are taken into account. The effect of further Coulombic centres and of varying the form of the potential is briefly discussed. In particular a constant of the motion is derived for a two‐centre potential which has both Coulombic and simple harmonic terms. The relationship between these constants of the motion and the separation of the Hamiltonian into spheroidal coordinates is noted (this had previously been known only for the two‐centre Coulomb problem in three‐dimensional space). Finally the application to the hydrogen molecule ion, treated in the adiabatic approximation, is pointed out. The extra constant of the motion is seen to account for an observed apparent breakdown in the noncrossing rule for the potential energy curves.