Non-collision periodic solutions of second order singular dynamical systems

We study the existence of non-collision periodic solutions for second order singular dynamical systems. The repulsive case and the attractive case are dealt with using a unified topological approach. The proof is based on a well-known fixed point theorem for completely continuous operators, involving a new type of cone. We do not need to consider so-called strong force conditions. Moreover, for the repulsive case, the critical case can be covered. Recent results in the literature, even in the scalar case, are complemented, generalized and improved.