The problem of three bodies

The gravitational problem of three bodies is presented in the general case, without restrictions on the distances and masses of the participating bodies. Recent advances are discussed and the consequences of the Laplacean instability in stellar dynamics are described.     

Almost-square orbits in the restricted problem of three bodies

In the restricted problem of three bodies, it has been discovered that, in a nonrotating frame, almost perfectly square orbits can result. Numerical investigations of these orbits have been made, and a brief explanation of their behaviour is given.     

Triple close approaches in the problem of three bodies

The gravitational problem of three bodies is treated in the case when the masses of the participating bodies are of the same order of magnitude and their distances are arbitrary. Estimates for the minimum perimeter of the triangle formed by the bodies and for the rate of the expansion of the system are obtained from Sundman's modified general inequality when the total energy of the system is negative. These estimates are used to propose and to describe an escape mechanism based on genuine three-body dynamics and to offer a method to control the accuracy of numerical integrations of the problem of three bodies. The requirements for these two applications are contradictory since an escape is the consequence of a close triple approach which phenomenon is detrimental to the accuracy of the computations. Consequently, the numerical study of escape from a triple system must treat triple close approaches with high reliability.Presented at the Conference on Celestial Mechanics, Oberwolfach, Germany, August 27–September 2, 1972.     

Bifurcation points in the planar problem of three bodies

An essential parameter in the planar problem of three bodies is the product of the square of the angular momentum and of the total energy (c ² H). The role of this parameter, which may be called abifurcation parameter, in establishing regions of possible motions has been shown by Marchal and Saari (1975) and Zare (1976a). There exist critical values of this parameter below which exchange between bodies cannot occur. These critical values may be calledbifurcation points.This paper gives an analytical criterion to obtain these bifurcation points for any given masses of the participating bodies.     

On oscillatory motion in the problem of three bodies

In the case of oscillatory motion in the problem of three bodies it is shown that ast the mutual distances between particles cannot separate faster thanCt ^2/3 whereC is some positive constant. As bounding functions of time exist for the other classifications of motion in the three body problem, it follows in general that the mutual distances between particles is 0(t) ast.     

On the generalized restricted problem of three bodies

The particular case of the complete generalized three-body problem (Duboshin, 1969, 1970) where one of the body-points does not exert influence on the other two is analysed. These active material points act on the passive point and also on each other with forces (attraction or repulsion), proportional to the product of masses of both points and a certain function of the time, their mutual distances and their first and second derivatives. Furthermore it is not supposed that generally the third axiom of mechanics (action=reaction) takes place.Here under these more general assumptions the equations of motion of the active masses and the passive point, as well as the diverse transformations of these equations are analogous of the same transformations which are made in the classical case of the restricted three-body problem.Then we determine conditions for some particular solutions which exist, when the three points form the equilateral triangle (Lagrangian solutions) or remain always on a straight line (Eulerian solutions).Finally, assuming that some particular solutions of the above kind exist, the character of solutions near this particular one is envisaged. For this purpose the general variational equations are composed and some conclusions on the Liapunov stability in the simplest cases are made.     

The rectilinear restricted problem of three bodies

In this paper we discuss some aspects of the isosceles case of the rectilinear restricted problem of three bodies, where two primaries of equal mass move on rectilinear ellipses, and the particle is confined to the symmetry axis of the system. In particular, the behaviour near a collision of the primaries and also near a collision of all three bodies is investigated. It is shown that this latter singularity is a triple collision in the sense of Siegel's theory. Furthermore, asymptotic expansions for the particle's motion during a parabolic and a hyperbolic escape are derived.Presented at the Conference on Celestial Mechanics, Oberwolfach, Germany, August 27–September 2, 1972.     

On lagrange solutions in the problem of three rigid bodies

The present paper is a direct continuation of the paper (Duboshin, 1973) in which was proved the existence of one kind of Lagrange (triangle) and Euler (rectilinear) solutions of the general problem of the motion of three finite rigid bodies assuming different laws of interaction between the elementary particles of the rigid bodies. In particular, Duboshin found that the general problem of three rigid bodies permits such solutions in which the centres of mass of the bodies always form an equilateral triangle or always remain on one straight line, and each body possesses an axial symmetry and a symmetry with respect to the plane of the centres of mass and rotates uniformly around its axis orthogonal to this plane. The conditions for the existence of such solutions have also been found. The results in Duboshin's paper have greatly interested the author of the present paper. In another paper (Kondurar and Shinkarik, 1972) considering a more special problem, when two of the three bodies are spheres, either homogeneous or possessing a spherically symmetric distribution of the densities or of the material points, and the third is an axially symmetrical body possessing equatorial symmetry, the present author obtained analogous solutions of the ‘float’ type describing the motion of the indicated dynamico-symmetrical body in assuming its passive gravitation. In the present paper new Lagrange solutions of the considered general problems of three rigid bodies of ‘level’ type are found when the axes of geometrical and mechanical symmetry of all three bodies always lie in the triangle plane, and the bodies themselves rotate inertially around the symmetry axis, independently of the parameters of the orbital motion of the centres of mass as in the ‘float’ case. The study of particular solutions of the general problem of the translatory-rotary motion of three rigid bodies, which are a generalization of Lagrange solutions, is in the author's opinion, a novelty of some interest for both theoretical and practical divisions of celestial mechanics. For example, in recent times the problem of the libration points of the Earth-Moon system has acquired new interest and value. A possible application which should be mentioned is that to the orbits of artificial satellites near the triangular libration points to serve as observation stations with the aim of specifying the physical parameters in the Earth-Moon system (e.g., the relation of the Earth's mass to the Moon's mass for investigating the orientation of the satellite, solar radiation, etc.).     

The invariance of the restricted problem of three bodies

The restricted problem of three bodies in sidereal coordinates is investigated using Lie theoretical methods of extended groups. The application of the theory results in a single scalar generator with an associated invariant-the integral of the motion attributed to Jacobi.     

Numerical explorations of the rectilinear problem of three bodies

We present some results of a numerical exploration of the rectilinear problem of three bodies, with the two outer masses equal. The equations of motion are first given in relative coordinates and in regularized variables, removing both binary collision singularities in a single coordinate transformation. Among our most important results are seven periodic solutions and three symmetric triple collision solutions. Two of these periodic solutions have been continued into families, the outer massm ₃ being the family parameter. One of these families exists for all masses while the second family is a branch of the first at a second-kind critical orbit. This last family ends in a triple collision orbit.Proceedings of the Sixth Conference on Mathematical Methods in Celestial Mechanics held at Oberwolfach (West Germany) from 14 to 19 August, 1978.     

Hill stability of the general problem of three bodies

We discuss Hill stability in the general three-body problem. The Hill curves in the general problem are the same as in the planar problem. We show that the bifurcation points correspond to the five equilibrium solutions, and derive the criterion for stability in the general case. Application of this criterion to 19 natural satellites of the Solar system leads to the result that, apart from Neptune 1, all the other 18 satellites are unstable in the sense of Hill. The dominant factor in producing this result is the finite eccentricity of the planetary orbits around the Sun.     

Periodic orbits under combined effects of oblateness and radiation in the restricted problem of three bodies

In this paper, we study the existence of libration points and their linear stability when the three participating bodies are axisymmetric and the primaries are radiating, we found that the collinear points remain unstable, it is further seen that the triangular points are stable for 0<μ<μ _c , and unstable for where , it is also observed that for these points the range of stability will decrease. In addition to this we have studied periodic orbits around these points in the range 0<μ<μ _c , we found that these orbits are elliptical; the frequencies of long and short orbits of the periodic motion are affected by the terms which involve parameters that characterize the oblateness and radiation repulsive forces. The implication is that the period of long periodic orbits adjusts with the change in its frequency while the period of short periodic orbit will decrease.     

Surfaces of zero velocity in the restricted problem of three bodies

Recent uses of computer graphics allow the representation of the three-dimensional surfaces of zero velocity, also known as Hill's or the Jacobian surfaces. The purpose of this paper is to show the actual surfaces rather than their projections which are available in the standard literature. The analytical properties of the surfaces are also available; therefore, this paper offers the pertinent references rather than the derivations.     

Properties of the moment of inertia in the problem of three bodies

Sundman's and Birkhoff's results are combined with a recently developed inequality and new qualitative results are given for the problem of three bodies.     

A new regularization of the planar problem of three bodies

A new method of simultaneously regularizing the three types of binary collisions in the planar problem of three bodies is developed: The coordinates are transformed by means of certain fourth degree polynomials, and a new independent variable is introduced, too. The proposed transformation is in each binary collision locally equivalent to Levi-Civita's transformation, whereas the singularity corresponding to a triple collision is mapped into infinity. The transformed Hamiltonian is a polynomial of degree 12 in the regularized variables.Presented before the Division of Dynamical Astronomy at the 133rd meeting of the American Astronomical Society, Tampa, Florida, December 6–9, 1970.Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics.     

Investigation of the hydrodynamic analogy in the restricted problem of three bodies

The hydrodynamic analogy concept is examined from the standpoint of the possibility of physical realization of an analog device. The conditions that must be satisfied, conservation of mass and momentum and uniqueness of physical properties, are discussed in detail and applied to examples, including the Birkhoff formulation. The transformation of the restricted problem into a velocity field does not insure that an analog flow can be constructed, as demonstrated by two cases that correspond to physically impossible flows. Conservative force fields are certainly incapable of producing the desired results. The physical possibility of simulating the Birkhoff velocity field remains uncertain, but a practical consideration in the visualization seemingly eliminates all possibility of this analogy being useful.     

Kolmogorov and Nekhoroshev theory for the problem of three bodies

We investigate the long time stability in Nekhoroshev’s sense for the Sun– Jupiter–Saturn problem in the framework of the problem of three bodies. Using computer algebra in order to perform huge perturbation expansions we show that the stability for a time comparable with the age of the universe is actually reached, but with some strong truncations on the perturbation expansion of the Hamiltonian at some stage. An improvement of such results is currently under investigation.     

Integration theory for the restricted problem of three axisymmetric bodies

In this paper the circular planar restricted problem of three axisymmetric ellipsoids S _i (i = 1, 2, 3), such that their equatorial planes coincide with the orbital plane of the three centres of masses, be considered. The equations of motion of infinitesimal body S ₃ be obtained in the polar coordinates. Using iteration approach we have given an approximation for another integral, which independent of the Jacobian integral, in the case of P-type orbits (near circular orbits surrounding both primaries).     

On the Hill stability in the general problem of three finite bodies

We construct zero-kinetic-energy surfaces and determine the regions where motion is possible. We show that for bodies with finite sizes, there are bounded regions of space within which a three-body system never breaks up. The Hill stability criterion is established.     

Stationary motions in a restricted problem of three rigid bodies

The present paper is a continuation of papers by Shinkaric (1972), Vidyakin (1976), Vidyakin (1977), and Duboshin (1978), in which the existence of particular solutions, analogues to the classic solutions of Lagrange and Euler in the circular restricted problem of three points were proved. These solutions are stationary motions in which the centres of mass of the bodies of the definite structures always form either an equilateral triangle (Lagrangian solutions) or always remain on a straight line (Eulerian solutions) The orientation of the bodies depends on the structure of the bodies. In this paper the usage of the small-parameter method proved that in the general case the centre of mass of an axisymmetric body of infinitesimal mass does not belong to the orbital plane of the attracting bodies and is not situated in the libration points, corresponding to the classical case. Its deviation from them is proportional to the small parameter. The body turns uniformly around the axis of symmetry. In this paper a new type of stationary motion is found, in which the axis of symmetry makes an angle, proportional to the small parameter, with the plane created by the radius-vector and by the normal to the orbital plane of the attracting bodies. The earlier solutions-Shinkaric (1971) and Vidyakin (1976)-are also elaborated, and stability of the stationary motions is discussed.