Some manifolds of periodic orbits in the restricted three-body problem

In the present paper we give some numerical results about natural families of periodic orbits, which emanate from limiting orbits around the equilateral equilibrium points of the Restricted Three-Body Problem, when the mass ratio is greater than Routh's critical one.     

Critical symmetric periodic orbits in the photogravitational restricted three-body problem

In this paper, we determine series of horizontally critical symmetric periodic orbits of the six basic families, f,g,h,i,l,m, of the photogravitational restricted three-body problem, and computetheir vertical stability. We restrict our study in the case where only the first primary is radiating, namely q ₁≠1 andq ₂=1. We also compare our results with those of Hénon and Guyot (1970) so as to study the effect of radiation to this kind of orbits. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Resonance transition periodic orbits in the circular restricted three-body problem

This work studies a special type of cislunar periodic orbits in the circular restricted three-body problem called resonance transition periodic orbits, which switch between different resonances and revolve about the secondary with multiple loops during one period. In the practical computation, families of multiple periodic orbits are identified first, and then the invariant manifolds emanating from the unstable multiple periodic orbits are taken to generate resonant homoclinic connections, which are used to determine the initial guesses for computing the desired periodic orbits by means of multiple-shooting scheme. The obtained periodic orbits have potential applications for the missions requiring long-term continuous observation of the secondary and tour missions in a multi-body environment.     

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.     

Analytical continuation of stability of periodic orbits in the restricted three-body problem

A supplement to the theory of analytical continuation of circular orbits in the restricted three-body problem is presented. The first order stability is given analytically to the first power of mass parameter . The theory of the Kirkwood gaps is discussed from this point of view. The stability limit which should determine the size of accretion discs in binaries is found to be in good agreement with earlier numerical experiments for < 1/2.     

The continuation of periodic orbits from the restricted to the general three-body problem

Celestial Mechanics and Dynamical Astronomy - It is proved that a symmetric periodic orbit of the circular planar restricted three-body problem can be continued analytically, when the mass of the...     

Bounded orbits in the elliptic restricted three-body problem

Special solutions of the planar rectilinear elliptic restricted 3-body problem are investigated for the limiting case e=1. Numerical integration is performed for primaries of equal masses. Starting values which define circular orbit solutions lead to bounded solutions if the initial radius a₀ is larger than 3.74 in units of the primaries' semimajor axis a. A comparison with the Eulerian two-fixedcentre problem is presented in order to understand qualitatively the characteristic features of bounded orbits and the transition to escape orbits.     

Continuation of periodic orbits: Three-dimensional circular restricted to the general three-body problem

It is proved that a periodic orbit of the three-dimensional circular restricted three-body problem can be continued analytically, when the mass of the third body is sufficiently small, to a periodic orbit of the three dimensional general three-body problem in a rotating frame. The above method is not applicable when the period of the periodic orbit of the restricted problem is equal to 2k (k any integer), in the usual normalized units. Several numerical examples are given.     

Bifurcations of plane to 3D periodic orbits in the photogravitational restricted three-body problem

We consider bifurcation of 3D periodic orbits from the plane ofmotion of the primaries in the photogravitational restricted three-bodyproblem. The simplest periodic 3D orbits branch from the plane periodicorbits of indifferent vertical stability. We compute the first few suchorbits of the basic families l, m, i, h, a, b, c forvarying mass parameter and for varying radiation coefficient of thelarger primary. The horizontal stability of the orbits is also computedleading to predictions about possible stability of the 3D orbits.     

Families of three-dimensional axisymmetric periodic orbits in the restricted three-body problem: Sun-Jupiter case

Families of three-dimensional axisymmetric periodic orbits are determined numerically in the Sun-Jupiter case of the restricted three-body problem. These families bifurcate from the vertical-critical orbits (_v = 1,b _v = 0) of the basic plane familiesi andI. Further the predictor-corrector procedure employed to reveal these families has been described and interesting numerical results have been pointed out. Also, computer plots of the orbits of these families have been shown in conical projections.     

Families of three-dimensional plane-symmetric periodic orbits in the restricted three-body problem: Sun-Jupiter case

Two new families of three-dimensional simple-symmetric periodic orbits are determined numerically in the Sun-Jupiter case of the restricted three-body problem. These families emanate from the vertical-critical orbits (_v = 1,c _v = 0)of the familiesi andl of plane symmetric simpleperiodic orbits direct around the Sun and the Sun-Jupiter respectively. Further, the numerical technique employed in the determination of these families has been described and interesting results have been pointed out. Also, computer plots of the orbits of these families have been shown in conical projections.     

Families of periodic orbits in the three-body problem

We show by a general argument that periodic solutions of the planar problem of three bodies (with given masses) form one-parameter families. This result is confirmed by numerical investigations: two orbits found earlier by Standish and Szebehely are shown to belong to continuous one-parameter families of periodic orbits. In general these orbits have a non-zero angular momentum, and the configuration after one period is rotated with respect to the initial configuration. Similar general arguments whow that in the three-dimensional problem, periodic orbits form also one-parameter families; in the one-dimensional problem, periodic orbits are isolated.     

On the continuation of periodic orbits from the restricted to the general three-body problem

Some properties of the characteristic surface of a family of symmetric periodic orbits of the general three-body problem, corresponding to a fixed value of the ratio of the masses of two of the bodies, are studied in view of recent theoretical and numerical results. Periodic orbits of the planar circular restricted problem with period equal to an integer multiple of 2 are of special interest for the structure of a characteristic surface.     

Non-schubart periodic orbits in the rectilinear three-body problem

In the present paper, in the rectilinear three-body problem, we qualitatively follow the positions of non-Schubart periodic orbits as the mass parameter changes. This is done by constructing their characteristic curves. In order to construct characteristic curves, we assume a set of properties on the shape of areas corresponding to symbol sequences. These properties are assured by our preceding numerical calculations. The main result is that characteristic curves always start at triple collision and end at triple collision. This may give us some insight into the nature of periodic orbits in the N-body problem.     

Instabilities and bifurcations of the families of collision periodic orbits in the restricted three-body problem

By using Birkhoff's regularizing transformation, we study the evolution of some of the infinite j-k type families of collision periodic orbits with respect to the mass ratio μ as well as their stability and dynamical structure, in the planar restricted three-body problem. The μ-C characteristic curves of these families extend to the left of the μ-C diagram, to smaller values of μ and most of them go downwards, although some of them end by spiralling around the constant point S* (μ=0.47549, C=3) of the Bozis diagram (1970). Thus we know now the continuation of the families which go through collision periodic orbits of the Sun-Jupiter and Earth-Moon systems. We found new μ-C and x-C characteristic curves. Along each μ-C characteristic curve changes of stability to instability and vice versa and successive very small stable and very large unstable segments appear. Thus we found different types of bifurcations of families of collision periodic orbits. We found cases of infinite period doubling Feigenbaum bifurcations as well as bifurcations of new families of symmetric and non-symmetric collision periodic orbits of the same period. In general, all the families of collision periodic orbits are strongly unstable. Also, we found new x-C characteristic curves of j-type classes of symmetric periodic orbits generated from collision periodic orbits, for some given values of μ. As C varies along the μ-C or the x-C spiral characteristics, which approach their focal-terminating-point, infinite loops, one inside the other, surrounding the triangular points L₄ and L₅ are formed in their orbits. So, each terminating point corresponds to a collision asymptotic symmetric periodic orbit for the case of the μ-C curve or a non-collision asymptotic symmetric periodic orbit for the case of the x-C curve, that spiral into the points L₄ and L₅, with infinite period. All these are changes in the topology of the phase space and so in the dynamical properties of the restricted three-body problem.     

Formulation of the restricted three-body problem with two-center problem orbits as intermediate orbits

The restricted three-body Hamiltonian is partitioned into a two-center type principal part and its accompanying perturbational part. The mathematical analysis, involving the Jacobian elliptic functions, is adapted for the case of figure-eight orbits winding around the two given mass points. For many such orbits the elliptic function modulusk is small and can serve as a small parameter.Fourier expansions in terms of a parameter related tot are obtained for the intermediate orbit functions which provide representations in terms of elementary functions.     

Bifurcation points and intersections of families of periodic orbits in the three-dimensional restricted three-body problem

Intersections of families of three-dimensional periodic orbits which define bifurcation points are studied. The existence conditions for bifurcation points are discussed and an algorithm for the numerical continuation of such points is developed. Two sequences of bifurcation points are given concerning the family of periodic orbits which starts and terminates at the triangular equilibrium pointsL ₄,L ₅. On these sequences two trifurcation points are identified forµ = 0.124214 andµ = 0.399335. The caseµ = 0.5 is studied in particular and it is found that the space families originating at the equilibrium pointsL ₂,L ₃,L ₄,L ₅ terminate on the same planar orbitm _1v of the familym.     

Periodic orbits in the generalized perturbed restricted three-body problem

This paper studies the existence and stability of equilibrium points under the influence of small perturbations in the Coriolis and the centrifugal forces, together with the non-sphericity of the primaries. The problem is generalized in the sense that the bigger and smaller primaries are respectively triaxial and oblate spheroidal bodies. It is found that the locations of equilibrium points are affected by the non-sphericity of the bodies and the change in the centrifugal force. It is also seen that the triangular points are stable for 0<μ<μ _c and unstable for m_c ￡ m < \frac12\mu_{c}\le\mu <\frac{1}{2}, where μ _c is the critical mass parameter depending on the above perturbations, triaxiality and oblateness. It is further observed that collinear points remain unstable.