The stability of inner collinear equilibrium points in the photogravitational elliptic restricted problem

The linear stability of the inner collinear equilibrium point of the photogravitational elliptic restricted three-body problem is examined and the stability regions are determined in the space of the parameters of mass, eccentricity and radiation pressure. The case of equal radiation factors of the two primaries is considered and the full range of values of the common radiation factor is explored, from the caseq ₁ =q ₂ =q = 1/8 at which the triangular equilibria disappear by coalescing on the rotating axis of the primaries transferring their stability to the collinear point, down toq = 0 at which value the stability regions in theµ - e plane disappear by shrinking down to zero size. It is found that radiation pressure exerts a significant influence on the stability regions. For certain intervals of radiation values these regions become qualitatively different from the gravitational case as well as the solar system case. They evolve as in the case of the triangular equilibrium point considered in a previous paper. There exist values of the common radiation factor, in the range considered, for which the collinear equilibrium point is stable for the entire range of mass distribution among the primaries and for large eccentricities of their orbits.     

Phase Mixing in Unperturbed and Perturbed Hamiltonian Systems

This paper summarises a numerical investigation of phase mixing in time-independent Hamiltonian systems that admit a coexistence of regular and chaotic phase space regions, allowing also for low amplitude perturbations idealised as periodic driving, friction, and/or white and coloured noise. The evolution of initially localised ensembles of orbits was probed through lower order moments and coarse-grained distribution functions. In the absence of time-dependent perturbations, regular ensembles disperse initially as a power law in time and only exhibit a coarse-grained approach towards an invariant equilibrium over comparatively long times. Chaotic ensembles generally diverge exponentially fast on a time scale related to a typical finite time Lyapunov exponent, but can exhibit complex behaviour if they are impacted by the effects of cantori or the Arnold web. Viewed over somewhat longer times, chaotic ensembles typical converge exponentially towards an invariant or near-invariant equilibrium. This, however, need not correspond to a true equilibrium, which may only be approached over very long time scales. Time-dependent perturbations can dramatically increase the efficiency of phase mixing, both by accelerating the approach towards a near-equilibrium and by facilitating diffusion through cantori or along the Arnold web so as to accelerate the approach towards a true equilibrium. The efficacy of such perturbations typically scales logarithmically in amplitude, but is comparatively insensitive to most other details, a conclusion which reinforces the interpretation that the perturbations act via a resonant coupling.     

Stability of the photogravitational restricted three-body problem with variable masses

This paper investigates the stability of equilibrium points in the restricted three-body problem, in which the masses of the luminous primaries vary isotropically in accordance with the unified Meshcherskii law, and their motion takes place within the framework of the Gylden–Meshcherskii problem. For the autonomized system, it is found that collinear and coplanar points are unstable, while the triangular points are conditionally stable. It is also observed that, in the triangular case, the presence of a constant κ, of a particular integral of the Gylden–Meshcherskii problem, makes the destabilizing tendency of the radiation pressures strong. The stability of equilibrium points varying with time is tested using the Lyapunov Characteristic Numbers (LCN). It is seen that the range of stability or instability depends on the parameter κ. The motion around the equilibrium points L _i (i=1,2,…,7) for the restricted three-body problem with variable masses is in general unstable.     

Linear stability of the triangular equilibrium points in the photogravitational elliptic restricted problem,II

The linear stability of the triangular equilibrium points in the photogravitational elliptic restricted three-body problem is examined and the stability regions are determined in the space of the parameters of mass, eccentricity, and radiation pressure, in the case of equal radiation factors of the two primaries. The full range of values of the common radiation factor is explored, from the gravitational caseq ₁ =q ₂ =q = 1 down to the critical value ofq = 1/8 at which the triangular equilibria disappear by coalescing on the rotating axis of the primaries. It is found that radiation pressure exerts a significant influence on the stability regions. For certain intervals of radiation values these regions become qualitatively different from the gravitational case as well as the solar system case considered in Paper I. There exist values of the common radiation factor, in the range considered, for which the triangular equilibrium points are stable for the entire range of mass distribution among the primaries and for large eccentricities of their orbits.     

Nonlinear stability in the restricted three-body problem with oblate and variable mass

This study investigates the nonlinear stability of the triangular equilibrium points when the bigger primary is an oblate spheroid and the infinitesimal body varies (decreases) it’s mass in accordance with Jeans’ law. It is found that these points are stable for all mass ratios in the range of linear stability except for three mass ratios depending upon oblateness coefficient A and β, a constant due to the variation in mass governed by Jeans’ law.     

Restricted N+1-Body Problem: Existence and Stability Of Relative Equilibria

We consider n bodies (with equal mass m) disposed at the vertices of a regular n-gon and rotating rigidly around an additional mass m ₀(at its center) with a constant angular velocity (relative equilibrium). In the present paper, we prove results on the existence and on the linear stability of equilibrium positions for a zero-mass particle submitted to the gravitational field generated by the previous system. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Existence of equilibrium points and their linear stability in the generalized photogravitational Chermnykh-like problem with power-law profile

We consider the modified restricted three body problem with power-law density profile of disk, which rotates around the center of mass of the system with perturbed mean motion. Using analytical and numerical methods, we have found equilibrium points and examined their linear stability. We have also found the zero velocity surface for the present model. In addition to five equilibrium points there exists a new equilibrium point on the line joining the two primaries. It is found that L ₁ and L ₃ are stable for some values of inner and outer radius of the disk while other collinear points are unstable, but L ₄ is conditionally stable for mass ratio less than that of Routh’s critical value. Lastly, we have studied the effects of radiation pressure, oblateness and mass of the disk on the motion and stability of equilibrium points.     

The equilibrium and the stability of the Jeans spheroids with toroidal magnetic fields

We examine the effect of a toroidal magnetic field on the equilibrium and stability of homogeneous masses distorted by the tidal effects of a secondary (of massM at a distanceR). It is shown that if the toroidal magnetic field is assumed to be axisymmetric about the direction of the line joining the centres of mass of the primary and the secondary, then the equilibrium configuration is a prolate spheroid. Also determined are the characteristic frequencies of the various modes of oscillations belonging to the second harmonics. It is found that the magnetic field shifts these frequencies to higher values than the ones which prevail in the absence of a magnetic field.     

Riemann Ellipsoids with Spherical Halos

Possible ellipsoidal figures of equilibrium are obtained for a rotating, gravitating fluid mass with internal mass flows of constant vorticity, embedded inside a homogeneous gravitating sphere. The classical ellipsoidal figures of equilibrium are generalized and new S-ellipsoids and ellipsoids with oblique rotation are obtained. The stability of embedded S-ellipsoids is investigated and the criterion for their stability is obtained. The existence of an ellipsoid with oblique rotation of type II inside a relatively dense halo becomes impossible.     

Nonlinear stability of equilibrium points in the restricted three-body problem with variable mass

The nonlinear stability of the equilibrium points in the restricted three-body problem with variable mass has been studied. It is found that, in the nonlinear sense, the collinear points are unstable for all mass ratios and the triangular points are stable in the range of linear stability except for three mass ratios, which depend upon β, the constant due to the variation in mass governed by Jeans’ law.     

On the stability of an encounterless self-gravitating constant density system

The stability of a constant density, self-gravitating system is investigated.The system considered is one-dimensional, collisionless and described by the sheet model.The equilibrium distribution functionF(E), E being the energy, is such that the system has constant density in real space over a finite region.An analytical treatment as well as computer experiment show stability for symmetric disturbances.     

Bounds on the stability of 3D magnetic equilibria in the solar corona

A necessary and a sufficient condition are derived for the ideal magnetohydrodynamic stability of any 3D magnetohydrostatic equilibrium using the energy method and incorporating photospheric line-tying. The theory is demonstrated by application to a simple class of theoretical 3D equilibria. The main thrust of the method is the formulation of the stability conditions as two sets of ordinary differential equations together with appropriate boundary conditions which may be numerically integrated along tied field lines one at a time. In the case of the shearless fields with non-negligible plasma pressure treated here the conditions for stability arenecessary and sufficient. The method employs as a trial function a destabilizing ballooning mode, of large wave number vector perpendicular to the equilibrium field lines. These modes may not be picked up in a solution of the full partial differential equations which arise from a direct treatment of the problem.     

Stability analysis of non-steady mhd-equilibria

Following the work of Bernsteinet al. (1958), Frieman and Rotenberg (1960) and Unno (1968) a formalism is developed which allows to examine the adiabatic stability of a perfectly conducting, rotating and self-gravitating plasma in non-steady equilibrium. Using this method the stability of a plasma in a dynamical phase of its evolution can be predicted. Global stability investigations are carried out which are based on a variation of the total energy of the system and, in general, lead to sufficient conditions for stability. The formalism is applied to the stability of a horizontal magnetic field in a medium stratified by a gravitational field.     

Non-linear stability in the generalized restricted three-body problem

The non-linear stability of the triangular equilibrium point L ₄ in the generalized restricted three-body problem has been examined. The problem is generalized in the sense that the infinitesimal body and one of the primaries have been taken as oblate spheroids. It is found that the triangular equilibrium point is stable in the range of linear stability except for three mass ratios.     

Small perturbations in flat galaxies

The aim of this series of papers is to develop straightforward methods of computing the response of flat galaxies to small perturbations. This Paper I considers steady state problems; Paper II considers time varying perturbations and the effects of resonances; and Paper III applies the methods developed in Papers I and II to a numerical study of the stability of flat galaxies.The general approach is to study the dynamics of each individual orbit. The orbits are described by their apocentric and pericentric radii,r _a andr _p , and the distribution function of an equilibrium model is a function ofr _a andr _p . The mass density and potential corresponding to a distribution function is found by means of an expansion in Hankel-Laguerre functions; the coefficients of the expansion being found by taking moments of the mass density of the individual orbits. This leads to a simple method of constructing equilibrium models.The response to a small perturbation is found by seeking the response of each orbit. When the perturbations are axisymmetric and slowly varying, the response can be easily found using adiabatic invariants. The potential is expanded in a series of Hankel-Laguerre functions, and the response operator becomes a discrete matrix. The condition that the model is stable against adiabatic radial perturbations is that the largest eigenvalue of the response matrix should be less than one.An analytic approximation to the response matrix is derived, and applied to estimate the eccentricity needed for stability against local perturbations.     

Non-radial oscillations in an axisymmetric MHD incompressible fluid

It is well known from Helioseismology that the Sun exhibits oscillations on a global scale, most of which are non-radial in nature. These oscillations help us to get a clear picture of the internal structure of the Sun as has been demonstrated by the theoretical and observational (such as GONG) studies. In this study we formulate the linearised equations of motion for non-radial oscillations by perturbing the MHD equilibrium solution for an axisymmetric incompressible fluid. The fluid motion and the magnetic field are expressed as scalarsU, V, P andT, respectively. In deriving the exact solution for the equilibrium state, we neglect the contribution due to meridional circulation. The perturbed quantitiesU *, V *, P *, T * are written in terms of orthogonal polynomials. A special case of the above formulation and its stability is discussed.     

Numerical Exploration of Chermnykh’s Problem

We study the equilibrium points and the zero-velocity curves of Chermnykh’s problem when the angular velocity ω varies continuously and the value of the mass parameter is fixed. The planar symmetric simple-periodic orbits are determined numerically and they are presented for three values of the parameter ω. The stability of the periodic orbits of all the families is computed. Particularly, we explore the network of the families when the angular velocity has the critical value ω = 2√2 at which the triangular equilibria disappear by coalescing with the collinear equilibrium point L₁. The analytic determination of the initial conditions of the family which emanate from the Lagrangian libration point L₁ in this case, is given. Non-periodic orbits, as points on a surface of section, providing an outlook of the stability regions, chaotic and escape motions as well as multiple-periodic orbits, are also computed. Non-linear stability zones of the triangular Lagrangian points are computed numerically for the Earth–Moon and Sun–Jupiter mass distribution when the angular velocity varies.     

Equilibrium points and stability in the restricted three-body problem with oblateness and variable masses

The existence and stability of a test particle around the equilibrium points in the restricted three-body problem is generalized to include the effect of variations in oblateness of the first primary, small perturbations ϵ and ϵ′ given in the Coriolis and centrifugal forces α and β respectively, and radiation pressure of the second primary; in the case when the primaries vary their masses with time in accordance with the combined Meshcherskii law. For the autonomized system, we use a numerical evidence to compute the positions of the collinear points L _2κ , which exist for 0<κ<∞, where κ is a constant of a particular integral of the Gylden-Meshcherskii problem; oblateness of the first primary; radiation pressure of the second primary; the mass parameter ν and small perturbation in the centrifugal force. Real out of plane equilibrium points exist only for κ>1, provided the abscissae x < \fracn(k-1)b\xi<\frac{\nu(\kappa-1)}{\beta}. In the case of the triangular points, it is seen that these points exist for ϵ′<κ<∞ and are affected by the oblateness term, radiation pressure and the mass parameter. The linear stability of these equilibrium points is examined. It is seen that the collinear points L _2κ are stable for very small κ and the involved parameters, while the out of plane equilibrium points are unstable. The conditional stability of the triangular points depends on all the system parameters. Further, it is seen in the case of the triangular points, that the stabilizing or destabilizing behavior of the oblateness coefficient is controlled by κ, while those of the small perturbations depends on κ and whether these perturbations are positive or negative. However, the destabilizing behavior of the radiation pressure remains unaltered but grows weak or strong with increase or decrease in κ. This study reveals that oblateness coefficient can exhibit a stabilizing tendency in a certain range of κ, as against the findings of the RTBP with constant masses. Interestingly, in the region of stable motion, these parameters are void for k = \frac43\kappa=\frac{4}{3}. The decrease, increase or non existence in the region of stability of the triangular points depends on κ, oblateness of the first primary, small perturbations and the radiation pressure of the second body, as it is seen that the increasing region of stability becomes decreasing, while the decreasing region becomes increasing due to the inclusion of oblateness of the first primary.     

On Sitnikov-like motions generating new kinds of 3D periodic orbits in the R3BP with prolate primaries

The existence of new equilibrium points is established in the restricted three-body problem with equal prolate primaries. These are located on the Z-axis above and below the inner Eulerian equilibrium point L ₁ and give rise to a new type of straight-line periodic oscillations, different from the well known Sitnikov motions. Using the stability properties of these oscillations, bifurcation points are found at which new types of families of 3D periodic orbits branch out of the Z-axis consisting of orbits located entirely above or below the orbital plane of the primaries. Several of the bifurcating families are continued numerically and typical member orbits are illustrated.     

Numerical exploration of the photogravitational restricted five-body problem

We study numerically the restricted five-body problem when some or all the primary bodies are sources of radiation. The allowed regions of motion as determined by the zero-velocity surface and corresponding equipotential curves, as well as the positions of the equilibrium points are given. We found that the number of the collinear equilibrium points of the problem depends on the mass parameter β and the radiation factors q _i , i=0,…,3. The stability of the equilibrium points are also studied. Critical masses associated with the number of the equilibrium points and their stability are given. The network of the families of simple symmetric periodic orbits, vertical critical periodic solutions and the corresponding bifurcation three-dimensional families when the mass parameter β and the radiation factors q _i vary are illustrated. Series, with respect to the mass (and to the radiation) parameter, of critical periodic orbits are calculated.