The Three-Body Problem in physics has long been considered unsolvable and chaotic, with interactions between three massive objects evolving unpredictably due to gravity. Alessandro Alberto Trani from the University of Copenhagen has challenged this conventional understanding by discovering that these encounters often follow regular patterns, with one object being expelled from the system. This insight could have significant implications for our understanding of gravitational waves and other aspects of the universe.
The popular Netflix series “3-Body Problem” is based on a novel series by Liu Cixin, focusing on a star system where three stars gravitate around each other. This configuration has intrigued scientists since Isaac Newton’s time, as the interaction between three objects introduces complexity and chaos. Trani’s research and simulations have shown that certain regularities can emerge in these encounters, depending on the positions, speeds, and angles of approach of the objects.
Trani’s software program, Tsunami, conducted millions of simulations of three-body encounters to investigate this phenomenon. By varying parameters such as initial positions and angles of approach, a map of possible outcomes was created, revealing isles of regularity within the chaos. These findings challenge traditional views of the Three-Body Problem and offer new avenues for astrophysics models and understanding of gravitational phenomena.
The understanding of three-body encounters is crucial for comprehending phenomena like gravitational waves emitted by black holes and other massive objects. Trani emphasizes the importance of studying these interactions to unlock mysteries of gravity, the universe, and fundamental physics. While the discovery of regular patterns presents a challenge for researchers in terms of predictive modeling, it also opens up possibilities for deeper insights and understanding in the long run.
In a side project during the pandemic, Trani delved into investigating fractal universes within the Three-Body Problem, leading him to explore the outcomes and regularities of these encounters. Despite the fictional portrayals of the problem in media like the Netflix series and novel, Trani’s simulations offer a scientific perspective on the phenomenon. He cheekily notes that the star system with three stars and one planet described as a “4-Body Problem” in fiction would likely result in the planet being destroyed by one of the stars, simplifying it back to a Three-Body Problem in practice.