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In the theory of many-particle systems, Jacobi coordinates often are used to simplify the mathematical formulation. These coordinates are particularly common in treating polyatomic molecules and chemical reactions,[3] and in celestial mechanics.[4] An algorithm for generating the Jacobi coordinates for N bodies may be based upon binary trees.[5] In words, the algorithm is described as follows:[5]

Let mj and mk be the masses of two bodies that are replaced by a new body of virtual mass M = mj + mk. The position coordinates xj and xk are replaced by their relative position rjk = xj − xk and by the vector to their center of mass Rjk = (mj qj + mkqk)/(mj + mk). The node in the binary tree corresponding to the virtual body has mj as its right child and mk as its left child. The order of children indicates the relative coordinate points from xk to xj. Repeat the above step for N − 1 bodies, that is, the N − 2 original bodies plus the new virtual body.

For the four-body problem the result is:[2]

$$\boldsymbol{r_1 = x_1 - x_2} \ ,$$
$$\boldsymbol{r_j }= \frac{1}{m_{0j}} \sum_{k=1}^j m_k\boldsymbol {x_k} \ - \ \boldsymbol{x_{j+1}}\ ,$$

with

$$m_{0j} = \sum_{k=1}^j \ m_k \ .$$

The vector R is the center of mass of all the bodies:

$$\boldsymbol R = \frac{1}{m_0} \sum_{k=1}^N\ m_k \boldsymbol{x_k} \ ; m_0 = \sum_{k=1}^N\ m_k \ .$$

The result one is left with is thus a system of N translationally-invariant coordinates and a reduced mass, from iteratively treats and reducing two-body systems within the many-body system.

References

David Betounes (2001). Differential Equations. Springer. p. 58; Figure 2.15. ISBN 0-387-95140-7.
Patrick Cornille (2003). "Partition of forces using Jacobi coordinates". Advanced electromagnetism and vacuum physics. World Scientific. p. 102. ISBN 981-238-367-0.
John Z. H. Zhang (1999). Theory and application of quantum molecular dynamics. World Scientific. p. 104. ISBN 981-02-3388-4.
For example, see Edward Belbruno (2004). Capture Dynamics and Chaotic Motions in Celestial Mechanics. Princeton University Press. p. 9. ISBN 0-691-09480-2.
Hildeberto Cabral, Florin Diacu (2002). "Appendix A: Canonical transformations to Jacobi coordinates". Classical and celestial mechanics. Princeton University Press. p. 230. ISBN 0-691-05022-8.

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