The 2/1 and 3/2 Resonant Asteroid Motion: A Symplectic Mapping Approach

A comparative study is made between the 2/1 and the 3/2 resonant asteroid motion, with the aim to understand their different behaviour (gap in the 2/1 resonance, group in the 3/2 resonance). A symplectic mapping model is used, for each of these two resonances, assuming the asteroid is moving in the three-dimensional space under the gravitational perturbation of Jupiter. It is found that these resonances differ in several points, and although there is, in general, more chaos in the phase space close to the 3/2 resonance, even in the model of circular orbit of Jupiter, there are regions, close to the secondary resonances, which are less chaotic in the 3/2 resonance compared to the 2/1 resonance, and consequently trapping can take place.     

Symmetric and asymmetric 3:1 resonant periodic orbits with an application to the 55Cnc extra-solar system

We study the dynamics of 3:1 resonant motion for planetary systems with two planets, based on the model of the general planar three body problem. The exact mean motion resonance corresponds to periodic motion (in a rotating frame) and the basic families of symmetric and asymmetric periodic orbits are computed. Four symmetric families bifurcate from the family of circular orbits of the two planets. Asymmetric families bifurcate from the symmetric families, at the critical points, where the stability character changes. There exist also asymmetric families that are independent of the above mentioned families. Bounded librations exist close to the stable periodic orbits. Therefore, such periodic orbits (symmetric or asymmetric) determine the possible stable configurations of a 3:1 resonant planetary system, even if the orbits of the two planets intersect. For the masses of the system 55Cnc most of the periodic orbits are unstable and they are associated with chaotic motion. There exist however stable symmetric and asymmetric orbits, corresponding to regular trajectories along which the critical angles librate. The 55Cnc extra-solar system is located in a stable domain of the phase space, centered at an asymmetric periodic orbit.     

Stable Chaos versus Kirkwood Gaps in the Asteroid Belt: A Comparative Study of Mean Motion Resonances

We have shown, in previous publications, that stable chaos is associated with medium/high-order mean motion resonances with Jupiter, for which there exist no resonant periodic orbits in the framework of the elliptic restricted three-body problem. This topological “defect” results in the absence of the most efficient mechanism of eccentricity transport (i.e., large-amplitude modulation on a short time scale) in three-body models. Thus, chaotic diffusion of the orbital elements can be quite slow, while there can also exist a nonnegligible set of chaotic orbits which are semiconfined (stable chaos) by “quasi-barriers” in the phase space. In the present paper we extend our study to all mean motion resonances of order q≤9 in the inner main belt (1.9-3.3 AU) and q≤7 in the outer belt (3.3-3.9 AU). We find that, out of the 34 resonances studied, only 8 possess resonant periodic orbits that are continued from the circular to the elliptic three-body problem (regular families), namely, the 2/1, 3/1, 4/1, and 5/2 in the inner belt and the 7/4, 5/3, 11/7, and 3/2 in the outer belt. Numerical results indicate that the 7/3 resonance also carries periodic orbits but, unlike the aforementioned resonances, 7/3-periodic orbits belong to an irregular family. Note that the five inner-belt resonances that carry periodic orbits correspond to the location of the main Kirkwood gaps, while the three outer-belt resonances correspond to gaps in the distribution of outer-belt asteroids noted by Holman and Murray (1996, Astron. J.112, 1278-1293), except for the 3/2 case where the Hildas reside. Fast, intermittent eccentricity increase is found in resonances possessing periodic orbits. In the remaining resonances the time-averaged elements of chaotic orbits are, in general, quite stable, at least for times t∼250 Myr. This slow diffusion picture does not change qualitatively, even if more perturbing planets are included in the model.     

Symmetric and asymmetric librations in extrasolar planetary systems: a global view

We present a global view of the resonant structure of the phase space of a planetary system with two planets, moving in the same plane, as obtained from the set of the families of periodic orbits. An important tool to understand the topology of the phase space is to determine the position and the stability character of the families of periodic orbits. The region of the phase space close to a stable periodic orbit corresponds to stable, quasi periodic librations. In these regions it is possible for an extrasolar planetary system to exist, or to be trapped following a migration process due to dissipative forces. The mean motion resonances are associated with periodic orbits in a rotating frame, which means that the relative configuration is repeated in space. We start the study with the family of symmetric periodic orbits with nearly circular orbits of the two planets. Along this family the ratio of the periods of the two planets varies, and passes through rational values, which correspond to resonances. At these resonant points we have bifurcations of families of resonant elliptic periodic orbits. There are three topologically different resonances: (1) the resonances (n + 1):n, (2:1, 3:2, ...), (2) the resonances (2n + 1):(2n-1), (3:1, 5:3, ...) and (3) all other resonances. The topology at each one of the above three types of resonances is studied, for different values of the sum and of the ratio of the planetary masses. Both symmetric and asymmetric resonant elliptic periodic orbits exist. In general, the symmetric elliptic families bifurcate from the circular family, and the asymmetric elliptic families bifurcate from the symmetric elliptic families. The results are compared with the position of some observed extrasolar planetary systems. In some cases (e.g., Gliese 876) the observed system lies, with a very good accuracy, on the stable part of a family of resonant periodic orbits.     

Structure of the 3:1 Jovian resonance: A comparison of numerical methods

The motion of asteroids near the 3:1 Jovian resonance in the restricted planar case is studied using three numerical methods: (a) integrating the full equations of motion, (b) integrating the averaged equations of motion, and (c) using an algebraic mapping recently developed by Wisdom (1982, Astron. J.87, 577–593). The relative merits of each method are investigated. It is concluded that in the regular regions of the phase space, methods b and c give excellent agreement with each other and that provided the maximum eccentricity e_max < 0.4 differences with the exact solution (method a) are <6% in e_max and <27% in the period of the oscillations. The additions of higher order terms in the expansion of the averaged Hamiltonian provides marginally better agreement with the full integration. This is probably due to the slow convergence of the expansion of the disturbing function at large eccentricities (e > 0.3). In chaotic regions of the phase there is little agreement between the orbital elements at any given time calculated by each method. However, all methods reflect the qualitative behavior of the chaotic trajectories and give good agreement on the bounds of the motion. Since the map is at least 200 times faster than solving the full equations of motion it is an efficient method of rapidly exploring accessible regions of the chaotic phase space.     

A symplectic mapping model for the 3/4 exterior

We present a symplectic mapping model to study the evolution of a small body at the 3/4 exterior resonance with Neptune, for planar and for three dimensional motion. The mapping is based on the averaged Hamiltonian close to this resonance and is constructed in such a way that the topology of its phase space is similar to that of the Poincaré map of the elliptic restricted three-body problem. Using this model we study the evolution of a small object near the 3/4 resonance. Both chaotic and regular motions are found, and it is shown that the initial phase of the object plays an important role on the appearance of chaos. In the planar case, objects that are phase-protected from close encounters with Neptune have regular orbits even at eccentricities up to 0.44. On the other hand objects that are not phase protected show chaotic behaviour even at low eccentricities. The introduction of the inclination to our model affects the stable areas around the 3/4 mean motion resonance, which now become thinner and thinner and finally at is=10° the whole resonant region becomes chaotic. This may justify the absence of a large population of objects at this resonance.     

Structure of the 2:1 and 3:2 jovian resonances

The chaotic regions of the phase space in the vicinity of the 2:1 and 3:2 jovian resonances are identified by using a mapping technique derived from a second-order expansion of the disturbing function for the planar elliptical restricted three-body problem. It is shown that both resonances have extensive chaotic regions which in some cases can lead to large changes in the eccentricity of asteroid orbits. Although the 3:2 resonance is shown to be more chaotic than the 2:1 resonance, the existence of the Hilda group of asteroids and the Hecuba gap may be explained by distinct differences in the location of the high-eccentricity regions at each resonance. The problem of the convergence of the expansion of the disturbing function in the outer asteroid belt is also discussed.     

Planar periodic orbits in exterior resonances with Neptune

In the framework of the planar restricted three-body problem we study a considerable number of resonances associated to the basic dynamical features of Kuiper belt and located between 30 and 48 a.u. Our study is based on the computation of resonant periodic orbits and their stability. Stable periodic orbits are surrounded by regular librations in phase space and in such domains the capture of trans-Neptunian object is possible. All the periodic orbits found are symmetric and there is an indication of the existence of asymmetric ones only in a few cases. In the present work first, second and third order resonances are under consideration. In the planar circular case we found that most of the periodic orbits are stable. The families of periodic orbits are temporarily interrupted by collisions but they continue up to relatively large values of the Jacobi constant and highly eccentric regular motion exists for all cases. In the elliptic problem and for a particular eccentricity value of the primary bodies, the periodic orbits are isolated. The corresponding families, where they belong to, bifurcate from specific periodic orbits of the circular problem and seem to continue up to the rectilinear problem. Both stable and unstable orbits are obtained for each case. In the elliptic problem, the unstable orbits found are associated with narrow chaotic domains in phase space. The evolution of the orbits, which are located in such chaotic domains, seems to be practically regular and bounded for long time intervals.     

Confined chaotic motion in three-body resonances: trapping of trans-Neptunian material induced by gas-drag

Jiang & Yeh proposed gas-drag-induced resonant capture as a mechanism able to explain the dominant 3:2 resonance observed in the trans-Neptunian belt. Using a model of a disc–star–planet system they concluded that gaseous drag in a protoplanetary disc can trap trans-Neptunian object (TNO) embryos into the 3:2 resonance rather easily although it could not trap objects into the 2:1 resonance. Here we further investigate this scenario using numerical simulations within the context of the planar restricted four-body problem by including both present-day Uranus and Neptune. Our results show that mean motion and corotation resonances are possible and trapping into both the 3:2 and 2:1 resonances as well as other resonances is observed. The associated corotation centres may easily form larger planetesimals from smaller ones. Corotation resonances evolve into pure Lindblad resonances in a time-scale of 0.5 Myr. The non-linear corotation and mean motion resonances produced are very size selective. The 3:2 resonance is dominant for submetric particles but for larger particles the 2:1 resonance is stronger. In summary, our calculations show that confined chaotic motion around the resonances not only increases trapping efficiency but also the orbital eccentricities of the trapped material, modifying the relative abundance of trapped particles in different resonances. If we assume a more compact planetary system, instead of using the present-day values of the orbital elements of Uranus and Neptune, our results remain largely unchanged.     

Numerical investigation of motions of resonant asteroids in the three-dimensional space

Motions of asteroids in mean motion resonances with Jupiter are studied in three-dimensional space. Orbital changes of fictitious asteroids in the Kirkwood gaps are calculated by numerical integrations for 10⁵ – 10⁶ years. The main results are as follows: (1) There are various motions of resonant asteroids, and some of them are very complicated and chaotic and others are regular. (2) The eccentricity of some asteroids becomes very large, and the variation of the inclination is large while the eccentricity is large. (3) In the 3:1 resonance, there is a long periodic change in the variation of the inclination, when (7 : ) is a simple ratio (7: longitude of perihelion, : longitude of node). (4) In the 7:3 resonance, the variation of the inclination of some resonant asteroids is so large that prograde motion becomes retrograde. Some asteroids in the 7:3 resonance can collide with the Sun as well as with the inner planets.     

Phase-space volume of regions of trapped motion: multiple ring components and arcs

The phase-space volume of regions of regular or trapped motion, for bounded or scattering systems with two degrees of freedom respectively, displays universal properties. In particular, sudden reductions in the phase-space volume or gaps are observed at specific values of the parameter which tunes the dynamics; these locations are approximated by the stability resonances. The latter are defined by a resonant condition on the stability exponents of a central linearly stable periodic orbit. We show that, for more than two degrees of freedom, these resonances can be excited opening up gaps, which effectively separate and reduce the regions of trapped motion in phase space. Using the scattering approach to narrow rings and a billiard system as example, we demonstrate that this mechanism yields rings with two or more components. Arcs are also obtained, specifically when an additional (mean-motion) resonance condition is met. We obtain a complete representation of the phase-space volume occupied by the regions of trapped motion.     

Symmetric and Nonsymmetric Periodic Orbits in the Exterior Mean Motion Resonances with Neptune

We present families of periodic orbits and their stability for the exterior mean motion resonances 1:2, 1:3 and 1:4 with Neptune in the framework of the planar circular restricted three-body problem. We found that in each resonance there exist two branches of symmetric elliptic periodic orbits with stable and unstable segments. Asymmetric periodic orbits bifurcate from the corresponding symmetric ones. Asymmetric periodic orbits are stable and the motion in their neighbourhood is a libration with respect to the resonant angle variable. In all the families of asymmetric periodic orbits the eccentricity extends to high values. Poincaré sections reveal the changes of the topology in phase space.     

The strange case of the missing apocentric librators in the 3:2 resonance

From a comparison of the 2:1 and 3:2 resonances (in the asteroidal belt) two possible explanations to the absence of 3:2 apocentric librators are suggested. The first one is that such 3:2 resonant motion is dynamically unstable. The second interpretation requires the absence of nearcircular orbits originally at 4 AU. The latter view, if correct, is inconsistent with cosmogonic models which predict the original orbits of the asteroids to be nearly circular.     

A Symplectic Mapping Model for the Study of 2:3 Resonant Trans-Neptunian Motion

A symplectic mapping is constructed for the study of the dynamical evolution of Edgeworth-Kuiper belt objects near the 2:3 mean motion resonance with Neptune. The mapping is six-dimensional and is a good model for the Poincaré map of the real system, that is, the spatial elliptic restricted three-body problem at the 2:3 resonance, with the Sun and Neptune as primaries. The mapping model is based on the averaged Hamiltonian, corrected by a semianalytic method so that it has the basic topological properties of the phase space of the real system both qualitatively and quantitatively. We start with two dimensional motion and then we extend it to three dimensions. Both chaotic and regular motion is observed, depending on the objects' initial inclination and phase. For zero inclination, objects that are phase-protected from close encounters with Neptune show ordered motion even at eccentricities as large as 0.4 and despite being Neptune-crossers. On the other hand, not-phase-protected objects with eccentricities greater than 0.15 follow chaotic motion that leads to sudden jumps in their eccentricity and are removed from the 2:3 resonance, thus becoming short period comets. As inclination increases, chaotic motion becomes more widespread, but phase-protection still exists and, as a result, stable motion appears for eccentricities up to e = 0.3 and inclinations as high as i = 15°, a region where plutinos exist.     

The long-term stability of extrasolar system HD 37124. Numerical study of resonance effects

We describe numerical tools for the stability analysis of extrasolar planetary systems. In particular, we consider the relative Poincaré variables and symplectic integration of the equations of motion. We apply the tangent map to derive a numerically efficient algorithm of the fast indicator Mean Exponential Growth factor of Nearby Orbits (MEGNO), a measure of the maximal Lyapunov exponent, that helps to distinguish chaotic and regular configurations. The results concerning the three-planet extrasolar system HD 37124 are presented and discussed. The best-fitting solutions found in earlier works are studied more closely. The system involves Jovian planets with similar masses. The orbits have moderate eccentricities, nevertheless the best-fitting solutions are found in dynamically active region of the phase space. The long-term stability of the system is determined by a net of low-order two-body and three-body mean motion resonances. In particular, the three-body resonances may induce strong chaos that leads to self-destruction of the system after Myr of apparently stable and bounded evolution. In such a case, numerically efficient dynamical maps are useful to resolve the fine structure of the phase space and to identify the sources of unstable behaviour.     

Dynamic portrait of the planetary 2/1 mean-motion resonance – I. Systems with a more massive outer planet

We analyse the global structure of the phase space of the planar planetary 2/1 mean-motion resonance in cases where the outer planet is more massive than its inner companion. Inside the resonant domain, we show the existence of two families of periodic orbits, one associated to the librational motion of resonant angle (σ-family) and the other related to the circulatory motion of the difference in longitudes of pericentre (  Δϖ  -family). The well-known apsidal corotation resonances (ACR) appear as intersections between both families. A complex web of secondary resonances is also detected for low eccentricities, whose strengths and positions are dependent on the individual masses and spatial scale of the system.
The construction of dynamical maps for various values of the total angular momentum shows the evolution of the families of stable motion with the eccentricities, identifying possible configurations suitable for exoplanetary systems. For low–moderate eccentricities, several different stable modes exist outside the ACR. For larger eccentricities, however, all stable solutions are associated to oscillations around the stationary solutions.
Finally, we present a possible link between these stable families and the process of resonance capture, identifying the most probable routes from the secular region to the resonant domain, and discussing how the final resonant configuration may be affected by the extension of the chaotic layer around the resonance region.     

Synchronous spin-orbital resonance locking of large planetary satellites

A numerical investigation of the chaotic rotation of large planetary satellites before their synchronous spin-orbital resonance locking with regard to tidal friction is carried out. The rotational dynamics of seven large satellites greater than 1000 km in diameter and with known inertial parameters (Io, Europa, Ganymede, Callisto (J1–J4), Tethys (S3), Iapetus (S8), and Ariel (U1)) in the epoch of synchronous resonance locking is modeled. All of these satellites have a small dynamic asymmetry. The planar case is considered in which the satellite’s axis of rotation is orthogonal to the plane of orbit. The satellites possessing an initial rapid rotation pass through various resonant states during the tidal evolution. Here, the probability of their locking into these states exists. The numerical experiments presented in this paper have shown that, with a rather high arbitrariness in the choice of initial states, the satellites during the course of the tidal evolution of their rotational motion have passed without interruption through the regions of the 5: 2, 2: 1, and 3: 2 resonances in the phase space and are locked into the 1: 1 resonance. The estimate for the tidal deceleration time is obtained both theoretically and on the numerical experimental basis.     

Kuiper带天体的轨道动力学

主要评述太阳系动力学研究的一个新方向——Kuiper带的轨道动力学。早期的研究是为了探讨短周期彗星的起源。在发现第一颗Kuiper带小天体之后，人们开始将注意力转到Kuiper带共振区的相空间结构上，Morbidelli和Malhotra分别采用不同的模型研究了这些共振区的大小。其中主要研究对象是3:2共振区。冥王星也处在这一共振区中。从冥王星的轨道特性来看，冥王星应是一颗较大的Kuiper带天体，它还拥有另外两种共振——Kozai共振和1：1超级共振。正是由于这些共振的存在，冥王星的运动才得以长期保持稳定。观测表明许多Kuiper带天体也处的海王星的平运动共振中。早期的理论认为这些平运动共振起源于灾难性事件，如碰撞。然而这都是一些小概率事件，无法对共振的形成进行合理的解释。Malhotra通过行星迁移成功地解释了冥王星被共振俘获的机制。这一机制的概率非常大，同样可以用来解释Kuiper带天体共振的形成。     

Can a globular cluster formed in the galactic disk be raised into the halo?

The classical assumption that most globular clusters (hereafter GC) formed in situ in galactic halos is examined in an approximate, empirical way. Although this viewpoint is not rejected per se, an alternative possibility is investigated: the presence of multiple resonances in the galactic disk, together with the concurrent action of a resonant internal bar or distortion, may stir these resonances. This may lead to chaotic motion which breaks the action of the third integral for moderately eccentric orbits. These circumstances may consequently allow the formation of some GC’s in the disk with moderate to highly eccentric orbits, with the action of the resonant bar subsequently gradually driving them (as well as other stars with similar orbits) to spend most of their time in the Galaxy’s halo. The size of the resonant region and the probable effectiveness of the various agents in the associated phase space in the axisymmetric model are listed. An n-body simulation would be required to establish this proposal in a fully self-consistent way. Paper presented at the Division of Dynamical Astronomy Meetings in Halifax, N.S., Canada, June 2006.     

Local and global diffusion in the Arnold web of a priori unstable systems

Using the numerical techniques developed by Froeschlé et al. (Science 289 (5487): 2108–2110, 2000) and by Lega et al. (Physica D 182: 179–187, 2003) we have studied diffusion and stochastic properties of an a priori unstable 4D symplectic map. We have found two different kinds of diffusion that coexist for values of the perturbation below the critical value for the Chirikov overlapping of resonances. A fast diffusion along some resonant lines that exist already in the unperturbed case and a slow diffusion occurring in regions of the phase space far from such resonances. The latter one, although the system does not satisfy the Nekhoroshev hypothesis, decreases faster than a power law and possibly exponentially. We compare the diffusion coefficient to the indicators of stochasticity like the Lyapunov exponent and filling factor showing their behavior for chaotic orbits in regions of the Arnold web where the secondary resonances appear, or where they overlap.