A Systematic Study of the Stability of Symmetric Periodic Orbits in the Planar, Circular, Restricted Three-Body Problem

We investigate symmetric periodic orbits in the framework of the planar, circular, restricted, three-body problem. Having fixed the mass of the primary equal to that of Jupiter, we determine the linear stability of a number of periodic orbits for different values of the eccentricity. A systematic study of internal resonances, with frequency p/q with 2p 9, 1 q 5 and 4/3 p/q 5, offers an overall picture of the stability character of inner orbits. For each resonance we compute the stability of the two possible periodic orbits. A similar analysis is performed for some external periodic orbits.Furthermore, we let the mass of the primary vary and we study the linear stability of the main resonances as a function of the eccentricity and of the mass of the primary. These results lead to interesting conclusions about the stability of exosolar planetary systems. In particular, we study the stability of Earth-like planets in the planetary systems HD168746, GI86, 47UMa,b and HD10697.     

The linear stability of libration points of the photogravitational restricted three-body problem when the smaller primary is an oblate spheroid

This paper deals with the stationary solutions of the planar restricted three-body problem when the more massive primary is a source of radiation and the smaller primary is an oblate spheroid with its equatorial plane coincident with the plane of motion. The collinear equilibria have conditional retrograde elliptical periodic orbits around them in the linear sense, while the triangular points have long- or short-periodic retrograde elliptical orbits for the mass parameter 0 < _crit, the critical mass parameter, which decreases with the increase in oblateness and radiation force. Through special choice of initial conditions, retrograde elliptical periodic orbits exist for the case = _crit, whose eccentricity increases with oblateness and decreases with radiation force for non-zero oblateness.     

A quantitative bifurcation analysis of Hénon-like 2D maps

We numerically study the bifurcations of two nonlinear maps, with the same linear part, which depend on a parameter namely the Hénon quadratic map and the so called beam-beam map. Many families of periodic orbits which bifurcate from the central family, are studied. Each family undergoes a sequence of period doubling bifurcations in the quadratic map, But the behavior of the beam-beam map is completely different. Inverse bifurcations occur in both maps. But some families of the same type which bifurcate inversely in the quadratic map do not bifurcate inversely in the beam-beam map, even though both maps have common linear part.     

Periodic solutions of the third sort for restricted problem of three bodies and their stability

In this paper periodic solutions of the third sort for restricted problem of three bodies in the three-dimensional space are derived numerically by starting from generating solutions obtained by one of the authors (1969) and by increasing the mass-ratio of the two primaries stepwise from zero to about 1000 for 21, 32 and 61 cases of commensurable mean motions. Periodic solutions both for circular and elliptic orbits of the primaries are obtained.The stability of the periodic solutions for the 21 circular case is discussed and it is found that none of them is linearly stable.     

Existence and Stability of Libration Points in the Restricted Three-Body Problem When the Primaries are Triaxial Rigid Bodies

This paper deals with the stationary solutions of the planar restricted three-body problem when the primaries are triaxial rigid bodies with one of the axes as the axis of symmetry and its equatorial plane coinciding with the plane of motion. It is seen that there are five libration points, two triangular and three collinear. It is further observed that the collinear points are unstable, while the triangular points are stable for the mass parameter 0 < _crit(the critical mass parameter). It is further seen that the triangular points have long or short periodic elliptical orbits in the same range of .This revised version was published online in October 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

On the evolution of families of periodic orbits approaching a small primary

A network of families of periodic orbits is obtained approximately for the case =0.1 of the restricted problem using a direct grid search. Only such orbits of the third body are considered that cross the synodical line of the primaries outside the smaller of the two, perpendicularly, and in the direction of rotation of the system.     

Stability of periodic resonance-orbits in the elliptic restricted 3-body problem

Results of families of periodic orbits in the elliptic restricted problem are shown. They are calculated for the mass ratios =0.5 and =0.1 for the primary bodies and for different values of the eccentricity of the orbit of the primaries which is the second parameter. The case =0.5 is also a good model for planetary orbits in binaries. Finally we show detailed stability diagrams and give results according to the stability classification of Contopoulos.     

Three-dimensional,periodic, ‘halo’ orbits

A largely numerical study was made of families of three-dimensional, periodic, halo orbits near the collinear libration points in the restricted three-body problem. Families extend from each of the libration points to the nearest primary. They appear to exist for all values of the mass ratio , from 0 to 1. More importantly, most of the families contain a range of stable orbits. Only near L₁, the libration point between the two primaries, are there no stable orbits for certain values of . In that case the stable range decreases with increasing , until it disappears at =0.0573. Near the other libration points, stable orbits exist for all mass ratios investigated between 0 and 1. In addition, the orbits increase in size with increasing .     

The stability parameters of three-body periodic orbits

Formulae containing the elements of the variational matrix are obtained which determine the linear iso-energetic stability parameters of periodic orbits of the general three-body problem. This requires the numerical integration of the variational equations but produces the stability parameters with the effective accuracy of the numerical integration. The procedure is applied for the determination of horizontally critical orbits among the members of sets of vertical-critical periodic orbits of the threebody problem. These critical-critical orbits have special importance as they delimit the regions in the space of initial conditions which correspond to possibly stable three-dimensional periodic motion of low inclination.     

Bifurcations in systems of three degrees of freedom

We study the bifurcations of families of double and quadruple period orbits in a simple Hamiltonian system of three degrees of freedom. The bifurcations are either simple or double, depending on whether a stability curve crosses or is tangent to the axis b=–2. We have also generation of a new family whenever a given family has a maximum or minimum or .The double period families bifurcate from simple families of periodic orbits. We construct existence diagrams to show where any given family exists in the control space (, ) and where it is stable (S), simply unstable (U), doubly unstable (DU), or complex unstable (), We construct also stability diagrams that give the stability parameters b₁ and b₂ as functions of (for constant ), or of (for constant ).The quadruple period orbits are generated either from double period orbits, or directly from simple period orbits (at double bifurcations). We derive several rules about the various types of bifurcations. The most important phenomenon is the collision of bifurcations. At any such collision of bifurcations the interconnections between the various families change and the general character of the dynamical system changes.     

Introduction to the restricted Jupiter orbiter problem

We consider a restricted six-body problem, consisting of Jupiter, the four Galilean satellites, and an orbiter. The Galilean satellites' orbits are circular and coplanar; Io, Europa, and Ganymede are in exact resonance; their mean longitudes obey the Laplace relation. We seek periodic orbits which avoid close approaches to any satellite; such orbits are of interest for mission planning. They are approximated as equilibrium points of sets of variational equations associated with time-averaged disturbing functions. Stability of the solutions is also determined. The orbits of greatest interest are:Planar: twice Callisto's period, eccentricity0.6Planar: four times Callisto's period, eccentricity0.75Slightly inclined: twice Callisto's period, eccentricity arbitraryPlanar: 4/5 or 5/4 Europa's period.     

The structure of periodic solutions in the restricted problem of three bodies

We consider the basic families of plane-symmetric simply-periodic orbits in the Sun-Jupiter case of the plane restricted three-body problem and we study their horizontal and vertical stabilities. We give the critical orbits of these families, corresponding to the vertical stability parameter = 1 and in future communications we shall give the three-dimensional families which emanate from these plane bifurcations.     

Bifurcations of Plane to 3d Periodic Orbits in the Restricted Three-Body Problem with Oblateness

We consider the bifurcation of 3D periodic orbits from the plane of motion of the primaries in the restricted three-body problem with oblateness. The simplest 3D periodic orbits branch-off at the plane periodic orbits of indifferent vertical stability. We describe briefly suitable numerical techniques and apply them to produce the first few such vertical-critical orbits of the basic families of periodic orbits of the problem, for varying mass parameter and fixed oblateness coefficent A₁ = 0.005, as well as for varying A₁ and fixed = 1/2. The horizontal stability of these orbits is also determined leading to predictions about the stability of the branching 3D orbits.     

A case of commensurability induced by oblateness

In the three-dimensional restricted three-body problem, it is known that there exists a near one-to-one commensurability ratio between the planar angular frequencies (s _{1, 2, 3}) and the corresponding angular frequency (S ₂) in thez-direction at the three collinear equilibria (L _{1, 2, 3}), which is significant for small and practically important values of the mass parameter (). When the more massive primary is treated as an oblate spheroid with its equatorial plane coincident with the plane of motion of the primaries, it is established that oblateness induces a one-to-one commensurability at the exterior pointL ₃ (to the right of the more massive primary) and at the interior pointL ₂ for 01/2 and that atL ₁ no such commensurability exists. However, the values of the oblateness coefficient (A ₁) involved atL ₂ are too high to have any practical significance, while those atL ₃ being small for small values of may be useful for generating periodic orbits of the third kind.     

On the totality of periodic motions in the meridian plane of a magnetic dipole

The structure of the periodic solutions of the Störmer problem, representing the magnetic field of the Earth, is examined by considering the equatorial oscillations of the charged particle and their vertical bifurcations with meridian periodic oscillations. An infinity of new families of simple-periodic oscillations are found to exist in the vicinity of the thalweg and four such new families are actually established by numerical integration.     

Energy spectra of cosmic ray nuclei: 4≤Z≤26 and 0.3≤E≤2 GeV amu−1

Energy spectra of cosmic ray nuclei in the charge range 5Z26 have been derived from the response of an acrylic plastic erenkov detector. Data were obtained using a balloon-borne detector and cover the energy range 320E2200 MeV amu^–1. Spectra are derived from a formal deconvolution using the method of Lezniak (1975). Relative spectra of different elements are compared by observing the charge ratios. Secondary-primary ratios are observed to decrease with increasing energy, consistent with the effect previously observed at higher energy. Primary-to-primary ratios are constant for 6Z10 and 14Z26 but vary for 10Z14. This data is found to be consistent with existing data, where comparable, and lends strong support to the idea of two separate source populations contributing to the cosmic ray composition.Work supported by University of Maryland Grant NGR 21-002-316.     

The stability parameters of three-dimensional periodic three-body orbits

Formulae containing the elements of the variational matrix are obtained which determine the linear isoenergetic stability parameters of three-dimensional periodic orbits of the general three-boy problem. This requires the numerical integration of the variational equations but produces the stability parameters with the effective accuracy of the numerical integration. The conditions for stability, criticality, and bifurcations are briefly examined and the stability determination procedure is tested in the determination of some three-dimensional periodic orbits of low inclination bifurcating from vertical-critical coplanar orbits.     

Periodic orbits and their bifurcations in a 3-D system

We study some simple periodic orbits and their bifurcations in the Hamiltonian . We give the forms of the orbits, the characteristics of the main families, and some existence diagrams and stability diagrams. The existence diagram of the family 1a contains regions that are stable (S), simply unstable (U), doubly unstable (DU) and complex unstable (). In the regionsS andU there are lines of equal rotation numberm/n. Along these lines we have bifurcations of families of periodic orbits of multiplicityn. When these lines reach the boundary of the complex unstable region, they are tangent to it. Inside the region there are linesm/n, along which the orbits 1a, describedn-times, are doubly unstable; however, along these lines there are no bifurcations ofn-ple periodic orbits. The families bifurcating from 1a exist only in certain regions of the parameter space (, ). The limiting lines of these regions join at particular points representing collisions of bifurcations. These collisions of bifurcations produce a nonuniqueness of the various families of periodic orbits. The complicated structure of the various bifurcations can be understood by constructing appropriate stability diagrams.     

Stability of outer planetary orbits around binary stars: A comparison of Hill's and Laplace's stability criteria

A comparison is made between the stability criteria of Hill and that of Laplace to determine the stability of outer planetary orbits encircling binary stars. The restricted, analytically determined results of Hill's method by Szebehely and co-workers and the general, numerically integrated results of Laplace's method by Graziani and Black are compared for varying values of the mass parameter =m ₂/(m ₁+m ₂). For 00.15, the closest orbit (lower limit of radius) an outer planet in a binary system can have and still remain stable is determined by Hill's stability criterion. For >0.15, the critical radius is determined by Laplace's stability criterion. It appears that the Graziani-Black stability criterion describes the critical orbit within a few percent for all values of .     

New kinds of asymmetric periodic orbits in the restricted three-body problem

The procedure of numerical ascent from families of planar to three-dimensional periodic orbits and the subsequent descent to the plane is proved efficient in determining new families of planar asymmetric periodic orbits in the restricted three-body problem. Two such families are computed and described for values of the mass parameter for which it has been found that they exist. Two new families of three-dimensional asymmetric periodic orbits are also presented in this paper.