From the three-body problem to mathematical chaos

The elusive three-body problem saw spectacular progress thanks to Henri Poincaré. The French mathematician went further, devising new, more geometric methods for studying dynamical systems. His research has shaped our understanding of the stability of the solar system.

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DANIEL JUSTENS

PublishedJanuary 21, 2019UpdatedMay 16, 20261 min read

From the three-body problem to mathematical chaos

Why insist on distinguishing between "pure mathematics" and "applied mathematics" when each regularly benefits the other? The three-body problem in celestial mechanics provides a fine example. Its history is also bound up with that of the specialist journal Acta Mathematica, founded in 1882 by the Swedish mathematician Gösta Mittag-Leffler. In 1889, seeking to establish the journal's prestige, Mittag-Leffler decided to take advantage of the festivities marking the 60th birthday of King Oscar II of Sweden, himself a mathematics enthusiast, who offered a substantial prize for the occasion to whoever could solve an important problem.

Gösta Mittag-Leffler (1846–1927). King Oscar II of Sweden and Norway (1829–1907).

A manuscript sent for pulping -------------------------

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