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Configurations of points as Coulomb equilibria. (English) Zbl 1358.78016

Summary: We discuss various aspects of a general problem naturally arising in the framework of an approach to inverse problems of electrostatics. In particular, we describe some developments in the spirit of the famous Maxwell conjecture on the number of equilibria in the case of three charges. Along the same lines we discuss the equilibrium configurations of charges confined to a system of concentric circles and their relation to reconfiguring of charged orbiting objects. We also outline possible applications of our approach to the electrostatic control of polygonal linkages.

MSC:

78A30 Electro- and magnetostatics
78A35 Motion of charged particles
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