On the Asteroidal Population of the First-Order Jovian Resonances

The frequency map analysis was applied to the fairly realistic models of the 2/1, 3/2, and 4/3 jovian resonances and the results were compared with the asteroidal distribution at these commensurabilities. The presence of the Hecuba gap at the 2/1 and of the Hilda group in the 3/2 is explained on the basis of different rates of the chaotic transport (diffusion) in these resonances. The diffusion in the most stable 2/1-resonant region is almost two orders in magnitude faster than the diffusion in the region which accommodates the Hildas. In the 2/1 commensurability there are two possible locations for long-surviving asteroids: the one centered at an eccentricity of 0.3 near the libration stable centers with small libration amplitude and the other at a slightly lower eccentricity with a moderate libration amplitude (∼90°). Surprisingly, all asteroids observed in the 2/1 resonance (8 numbered and multi-opposition objects in Bowell's catalog from 1994) occupy the moderate-libration area and avoid the area in a close vicinity of the libration stable centers. Possible explanations of this fact were discussed. Concerning the 4/3 resonance, the only asteroid in the corresponding stable region is 279 Thule, in spite of the fact that this region is almost as regular (although not as extensive) as the one where the Hilda group in the 3/2, with 79 members, is found.     

On a temporary confinement of chaotic orbits of four dimensional symplectic mapping: A test on the validity of the synthetic approach

Poincaré maps for Hamiltonian systems with 3 degrees of freedom lead to the study of four dimensional symplectic mappings. As a test for the validity of a synthetic mapping of order 3 using gradient informations, we study the evolution with time of Liapounov Indicators in the case of the four dimensional standard map with chaotic and stable zones. Both Liapounov Indicators show the same behaviour for the real and synthetic mappings. They reveal exploding diffusion phenomena for temporarily confined chaotic orbits. The distribution of the time of explosion fits well with a Poisson law for the real mapping, but not for the synthetic one. However the mean time of explosion is essentially the same in both cases.     

A Symplectic Mapping Model as a Tool to Understand the Dynamics of 2/1 Resonant Asteroid Motion

We present a 3-D symplectic mapping model that is valid at the 2:1 mean motion resonance in the asteroid motion, in the Sun-Jupiter-asteroid model. This model is used to study the dynamics inside this resonance and several features of the system have been made clear. The introduction of the third dimension, through the inclination of the asteroid orbit, plays an important role in the evolution of the asteroid and the appearance of chaotic motion. Also, the existence of the secondary resonances is clearly shown and their role in the appearance of chaotic motion and the slow diffusion of the elements of the orbit is demonstrated. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Stickiness in three-dimensional volume preserving mappings

We investigate the orbital diffusion and the stickiness effects in the phase space of a 3-dimensional volume preserving mapping. We first briefly review the main results about the stickiness effects in 2-dimensional mappings. Then we extend this study to the 3-dimensional case, studying for the first time the behavior of orbits wandering in the 3-dimensional phase space and analyzing the role played by the hyperbolic invariant sets during the diffusion process. Our numerical results show that an orbit initially close to a set of invariant tori stays for very long times around the hyperbolic invariant sets near the tori. Orbits starting from the vicinity of invariant tori or from hyperbolic invariant sets have the same diffusion rule. These results indicate that the hyperbolic invariant sets play an essential role in the stickiness effects. The volume of phase space surrounded by an invariant torus and its variation with respect to the perturbation parameter influences the stickiness effects as well as the development of the hyperbolic invariant sets. Our calculations show that this volume decreases exponentially with the perturbation parameter and that it shrinks down with the period very fast.     

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.     

A symplectic mapping for the synchronous spin-orbit problem

We derive a symplectic mapping model based on Hadjidemetriou’s method for the synchronous spin-orbit problem with and without the additional precession of the nodes. The mapping is derived from the averaged potential of the spin-orbit dynamical model and includes the main spin-orbit interactions, i.e. the non-zero obliquity and wobble motion of the rotating body. In addition the orbit of the perturbing body allows non-zero inclination and eccentricity. To obtain the equilibrium configuration we calculate the position and stability of the fixed points in the 1:1 spin-orbit resonance and relate them to the equilibria of the continuous system. We use the mapping equations to investigate the long-term stability close to the fixed point solutions of the mapping. We also apply the mapping method to the case of the moon Titan and validate the mapping approach by means of numerical integrations. The mapping model reproduces all the characteristics of Deprit’s model of free rotation as well as the dynamical features of Henrard’s averaged model of spin-orbit interaction with great precision.     

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.     

Stability of higher order resonances in the restricted three-body problem

Third and fourth order mean motion resonances are studied in the model of the restricted three-body problem by numerical methods for mass parameters corresponding approximately to the Sun?CJupiter and Sun?CNeptune systems. In the case of inner resonances, it is shown that there are two regions of libration in the 8:5 and 7:4 resonances, one at low, the other at high eccentricities. In the 9:5 and 7:3 resonances libration can exist only in one region at high eccentricities. The 5:2 and 4:1 resonances are very regular, with one librational zone existing for all eccentricities. There is no visible region of libration at any eccentricities in the 5:1 resonance, the transition between the regions of direct and retrograde circulation is very sharp. In the case of outer resonances, the 8:5 and 7:4 resonances have also two regions of libration, but the 9:5 resonance has three, the 7:3 resonance two librational zones. The 5:2 resonance is again very regular, but it is parted for two regions of libration at high eccentricities. Libration is possible in the 4:1 resonance only at high eccentricities. The 5:1 resonance is very symmetric. In the case of outer resonances, a comparison is made with trans-Neptunian objects (TNO) in higher order mean motion resonances. Several new librating TNOs are identified.     

Instability and Diffusion in the Elliptic Restricted Three-body Problem

The importance of the stability characteristics of the planar elliptic restricted three-body problem is that they offer insight about the general dynamical mechanisms causing instability in celestial mechanics. To analyze these concerns, elliptic–elliptic and hyperbolic–elliptic resonance orbits (periodic solutions with lower period) are numerically discovered by use of Newton's differential correction method. We find indications of stability for the elliptic–elliptic resonance orbits because slightly perturbed orbits define a corresponding two-dimensional invariant manifold on the Poincaré surface-section. For the resonance orbit of the hyperbolic–elliptic type, we show numerically that its stable and unstable manifolds intersect transversally in phase-space to induce instability. Then, we find indications that there are orbits which jump from one resonance zone to the next before escaping to infinity. This phenomenon is related to the so-called Arnold diffusion. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

On the covering of a Hill’s region by solutions in the restricted three-body problem

We consider two classical celestial-mechanical systems: the planar restricted circular three-body problem and its simplification, the Hill’s problem. Numerical and analytical analyses of the covering of a Hill’s region by solutions starting with zero velocity at its boundary are presented. We show that, in all considered cases, there always exists an area inside a Hill’s region that is uncovered by the solutions.     

Review of the dynamics in the Kirkwood gaps

The study of mean motion resonance dynamics was motivated by the search for an explanation for the puzzling problem of the Kirkwood gaps. The most important contributions in this field within the last 32 years are reviewed here. At the beginning of that period, which coincides with the first long-term numerical investigations of resonant motion, different hypotheses (collisional, gravitational, statistical and cosmological) to explain the origin of the gaps were still competing with each other. At present, a general theory, based on gravitational mechanisms only, is capable of explaining in a uniform way all the Kirkwood gaps except the 2/1 one. Indeed, in the 4/1, 3/1, 5/2 and 7/3 mean motion commensurabilities, the overlap of secular resonances leads to almost overall chaos where asteroids undergo large and wild variations in their orbital elements. Such asteroids, if not thrown directly into the Sun, are sooner or later subject to strong close encounters with the largest inner planets, the typical time scale of the whole process being of the order of a few million years. Unfortunately, this mechanism is not capable of explaining the 2/1 gap where the strong chaos produced by the overlapping secular resonances does not attain orbits with moderate eccentricity, of low inclination and with low to moderate amplitude of libration. In the light of the most recent studies, it appears that the 2/1 gap is the global consequence of slow diffusive processes. At present, the origin of these processes remains under study.     

Diffusion of a passive scalar in a rotating medium with anisotropic turbulence

We investigate the influence of turbulence anisotropy and rotation on the diffusion of a low-concentration passive scalar in a turbulent medium. Using the renormalization the diffusion tensor over the spectrum of turbulent fluctuations, we show that enhanced horizontal mixing reduces the vertical diffusion transport of a passive scalar. Allowance for rotation results in two effects, which have not been noted previously: (1) under the influence of Coriolis forces, horizontal turbulence also produces a vertical diffusion flux, with the horizontal and vertical diffusions being of the same order of magnitude for rapidly rotating stars and (2) in the case of rapid rotation, all diffusion fluxes of a passive scalar decrease in inverse proportion to the square root of the Coriolis number.     

Symplectic Mapping for Trojan-Type Motion in the Elliptic Restricted Three-Body Problem

A symplectic mapping for Trojan-type motion has been developed in the secularly changing elliptic restricted three-body problem. The mapping describes well the characteristics of Trojan-type dynamics at small eccentricities. By using this mapping the boundary of the stability region has been studied for different values of the initial eccentricities of hypothetical Jupiter's Trojans. It has been found that in the secularly changing elliptic case the chaotic diffusion at the border of the stability region is stronger than simply in the elliptic case. An explanation of this observation might be the destruction of the chain of islands of the 13:1 secondary resonance between the short and long period component of the Trojan-like motion, caused possibly by the indirect perturbations of Saturn.     

Asteroid motion near the 3 : 1 resonance

A mapping model is constructed to describe asteroid motion near the 3 : 1 mean motion resonance with Jupiter, in the plane. The topology of the phase space of this mapping coincides with that of the real system, which is considered to be the elliptic restricted three body problem with the Sun and Jupiter as primaries. This model is valid for all values of the eccentricity. This is achieved by the introduction of a correcting term to the averaged Hamiltonian which is valid for small values of the ecentricity.We start with a two dimensional mapping which represents the circular restricted three body problem. This provides the basic framework for the complete model, but cannot explain the generation of a gap in the distribution of the asteroids at this resonance. The next approximation is a four dimensional mapping, corresponding to the elliptic restricted problem. It is found that chaotic regions exist near the 3 : 1 resonance, due to the interaction between the two degrees of freedom, for initial conditions close to a critical curve of the circular model. As a consequence of the chaotic motion, the eccentricity of the asteroid jumps to high values and close encounters with Mars and even Earth may occur, thus generating a gap. It is found that the generation of chaos depends also on the phase (i.e. the angles andv) and as a consequence, there exist islands of ordered motion inside the sea of chaotic motion near the 3 : 1 resonance. Thus, the model of the elliptic restricted three body problem cannot explain completely the generation of a gap, although the density in the distribution of the asteroids will be much less than far from the resonance. Finally, we take into account the effect of the gravitational attraction of Saturn on Jupiter's orbit, and in particular the variation of the eccentricity and the argument of perihelion. This generates a mixing of the phases and as a consequence the whole phase space near the 3 : 1 resonance becomes chaotic. This chaotic zone is in good agreement with the observations.     

Do not forget gravity waves

The physics of the Sun involves all possible physical processes and year after year forgotten processes are taken into account. A brief and partial history of recent dealing with gravity waves is presented here.There are random motions in the solar convective zone. They generate, at the boundary of the convective zone, gravity waves which propagate in the radiative zone. Random gravity waves generate three physical processes: (1) diffusion induced by the stochastic properties of random gravity waves; (2) transport of angular momentum; (3) influence of nonlinear properties on the rate of thermonuclear energy production. Taking into account processes (1) and (3) can possibly lead to the solution of the solar neutrino problem.Dedicated to Cornelis de Jager     

Periodic rotations of a rigid body located at the libration point

Periodic rotations of a rigid body close to the flat motions were found. Their orbital stability was investigated. Analysis was done up to second order of the small parameter. It was proved that solutions found are orbitally stable except of the third order resonance case. This resonance do not appear if terms up to the first order of small parameter are considered only.     

Origin and sustainability of the population of asteroids captured in the exterior resonance 1:2 with Mars

At present, approximately 1500 asteroids are known to evolve inside or sticked to the exterior 1:2 resonance with Mars at a ? 2.418 AU, being (142) Polana the largest member of this group. The effect of the forced secular modes superposed to the resonance gives rise to a complex dynamical evolution. Chaotic diffusion, collisions, close encounters with massive asteroids and mainly orbital migration due to the Yarkovsky effect generate continuous captures to and losses from the resonance, with a fraction of asteroids remaining captured over long time scales and generating a concentration in the semimajor axis distribution that exceeds by 20% the population of background asteroids. The Yarkovsky effect induces different dynamics according to the asteroid size, producing an excess of small asteroids inside the resonance. The evolution in the resonance generates a signature on the orbits, mainly in eccentricity, that depends on the time the asteroid remains captured inside the resonance and on the magnitude of the Yarkovsky effect. The greater the asteroids, the larger the time they remain captured in the resonance, allowing greater diffusion in eccentricity and inclination. The resonance generates a discontinuity and mixing in the space of proper elements producing misidentification of dynamical family members, mainly for Vesta and Nysa-Polana families. The half-life of resonant asteroids large enough for not being affected by the Yarkovsky effect is about 1 Gyr. From the point of view of taxonomic classes, the resonant population does not differ from the background population and the excess of small asteroids is confirmed.     

A note concerning the 2:1 and the 3:2 resonances in the asteroid belt

The dynamical behavior of asteroids inside the 2:1 and 3:2 commensurabilities with Jupiter presents a challenge. Indeed most of the studies, either analytical or numerical, point out that the two resonances have a very similar dynamical behavior. In spite of that, the 3:2 resonance, a little outside the main belt, hosts a family of asteroids, called the Hildas, while the 2:1, inside the main belt, is associated to a gap (the Hecuba gap) in the distribution of asteroids.In his search for a dynamical explanation for the Hecuba gap, Wisdom (1987) pointed out the existence of orbits starting with low eccentricity and inclination inside the 2:1 commensurability and going to high eccentricity, and thus to possible encounters with Mars. It has been shown later (Henrard et al.), that these orbits were following a path from the low eccentric belt of secondary resonances to the high eccentric domain of secular resonances. This path crosses a bridge, at moderate inclination and large amplitude of libration, between the two chaotic domains associated with these resonances.The 3:2 resonance being similar in many respects to the 2:1 resonance, one may wonder whether it contains also such a path. Indeed we have found that it exists and is very similar to the 2:1 one. This is the object of the present paper.     

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.