Reduction,relative equilibria and potential in the two rigid bodies problem

In this paper the problem of two, and thus, after a generalization, of an arbitrary finite number, of rigid bodies is considered. We show that the Newton-Euler equations of motion are Hamiltonian with respect to a certain non-canonical structure. The system possesses natural symmetries. Using them we shown how to perform reduction of the number of degrees of freedom. We prove that on every stage of this process equations of motion are Hamiltonian and we give explicite form corresponding of non-canonical Poisson bracket. We also discuss practical consequences of the reduction. We prove the existence of 36 non-Lagrangean relative equilibria for two generic rigid bodies. Finally, we demonstrate that our approach allows to simplify the general form of the mutual potential of two rigid bodies.     

Hamiltonian Dynamics of a Gyrostat in the N-Body Problem: Relative Equilibria

We consider the non-canonical Hamiltonian dynamics of a gyrostat in Newtonian interaction with n spherical rigid bodies. Using the symmetries of the system we carry out two reductions. Then, working in the reduced problem, we obtain the equations of motion, a Casimir function of the system and the equations that determine the relative equilibria. Global conditions for existence of relative equilibria are given. Besides, we give the variational characterization of these equilibria and three invariant manifolds of the problem; being calculated the equations of motion in these manifolds, which are described by means of a canonical Hamiltonian system. We give some Eulerian and Lagrangian equilibria for the four body problem with a gyrostat. Finally, certain classical problems of Celestial Mechanics are generalized.     

Rotation of a rigid satellite with a fluid component: a new light onto Titan’s obliquity

We revisit the rotation dynamics of a rigid satellite with either a liquid core or a global subsurface ocean. In both problems, the flow of the fluid component is assumed inviscid. The study of a hollow satellite with a liquid core is based on the Poincaré–Hough model which provides exact equations of motion. We introduce an approximation when the ellipticity of the cavity is low. This simplification allows to model both types of satellite in the same manner. The analysis of their rotation is done in a non-canonical Hamiltonian formalism closely related to Poincaré’s “forme nouvelle des équations de la mécanique”. In the case of a satellite with a global ocean, we obtain a seven-degree-of-freedom system. Six of them account for the motion of the two rigid components, and the last one is associated with the fluid layer. We apply our model to Titan for which the origin of the obliquity is still a debated question. We show that the observed value is compatible with Titan slightly departing from the hydrostatic equilibrium and being in a Cassini equilibrium state.     

Motion of a space station. I

In this first part of the work we develop the equations of motion of a triaxial space station in orbit around the oblate Earth. A first order solution of the problem is presented and the method of complete integration of the system is outlined up to second order of approximation. The zero order part of the Hamiltonian includes both the kinetic and potential energy (Earth's Newtonian attraction) of the station, while the motion in the vicinity of a specific configuration is assumed.The solution leads to deviations on the attitude introduced by the oblateness of the Earth. Such attitude is an exact solution of the equations of the station when its center of mass moves in an elliptic Keplerian orbit.The explicit expressions of the complete solution, discussion of other possible effects on the motion and numerical comparisons will be presented in the second part of the work.     

A note on the application of a generalized canonical approach to non-linear Hamiltonian systems

In the author's treatment of the ideal resonance problem (1988), a non-canonical transformation was employed to bring the original Hamiltonian to a form amenable to the use of standard action-angle variables. Though the strictly Hamiltonian form of equations of motion was thus compromised, their general form was maintained, allowing transformation of the system to arbitrary order and forestalling the introduction of elliptic functions until a final explicit integration required in this approach. The general theory of such transformations is presented, and some points regarding their application are discussed, leading to the conclusion that the approach is practically limited to systems with a single degree of freedom only.     

On the use of the autonomous Birkhoff equations in Lie series perturbation theory

In this article, we present the Lie transformation algorithm for autonomous Birkhoff systems. Here, we are referring to Hamiltonian systems that obey a symplectic structure of the general form. The Birkhoff equations are derived from the linear first-order Pfaff–Birkhoff variational principle, which is more general than the Hamilton principle. The use of 1-form in formulating the equations of motion in dynamics makes the Birkhoff method more universal and flexible. Birkhoff’s equations have a tensorial character, so their form is independent of the coordinate system used. Two examples of normalization in the restricted three-body problem are given to illustrate the application of the algorithm in perturbation theory. The efficiency of this algorithm for problems of asymptotic integration in dynamics is discussed for the case where there is a need to use non-canonical variables in phase space.     

Motion near the triangular points in the elliptic restricted problem of three bodies

In this paper the first variational equations of motion about the triangular points in the elliptic restricted problem are investigated by the perturbation theories of Hori and Deprit, which are based on Lie transforms, and by taking the mean equations used by Grebenikov as our upperturbed Hamiltonian system instead of the first variational equations in the circular restricted problem. We are able to remove the explicit dependence of transformed Hamiltonian on the true anomaly by a canonical transformation. The general solution of the equations of motion which are derived from the transformed Hamiltonian including all the constant terms of any order in eccentricity and up to the periodic terms of second order in eccentricity of the primaries is given.     

Extension of Cassini's Laws

We investigate the Cassini's laws which describe the rotational motion in a 1:1 spin-orbit resonance. When this rotational motion follows the conventional Cassini's laws, the figure axis coincides with the angular momentum axis. In this case we underline the differences between the rotational Hamiltonian for a 'slow rotating' body like the Moon and for a 'fast rotating' body like Phobos. Then, we study a more realistic rotational Hamiltonian where the angle J between the figure axis and the angular momentum axis could be different from zero. This Hamiltonian has not been studied before. We have found a new particular solution for this Hamiltonian which could be seen as an extension of the Cassini's laws. In this new solution the angle J is constant, which is not zero, and the precession of the angular momentum plane is equal to the mean motion of the argument of pericenter of the rotating body. This type of rotational motion is only possible when the orbital eccentricity of the rotating body is not zero. This new law enables describing in particular, the Moon mean rotational motion for which the mean value of the angle J is found to be equal to 103.9±0.7 s of arc.     

High order normal form construction near the elliptic orbit of the Sitnikov problem

We consider the Sitnikov problem; from the equations of motion we derive the approximate Hamiltonian flow. Then, we introduce suitable action–angle variables in order to construct a high order normal form of the Hamiltonian. We introduce Birkhoff Cartesian coordinates near the elliptic orbit and we analyze the behavior of the remainder of the normal form. Finally, we derive a kind of local stability estimate in the vicinity of the periodic orbit for exponentially long times using the normal form up to 40th order in Cartesian coordinates.     

Computing secular motion under slowly rotating quadratic perturbation

We consider secular perturbations of nearly Keplerian two-body motion under a perturbing potential that can be approximated to sufficient accuracy by expanding it to second order in the coordinates. After averaging over time to obtain the secular Hamiltonian, we use angular momentum and eccentricity vectors as elements. The method of variation of constants then leads to a set of equations of motion that are simple and regular, thus allowing efficient numerical integration. Some possible applications are briefly described.     

Dynamical evolution of weakly disturbed two-planetary system on cosmogonic time scales: The Sun-Jupiter-Saturn system

In the present paper, we used the Hori-Deprit method to construct the averaged Hamiltonian of the two-planetary problem accurate to the second order of a small parameter, the generating function of the transform, the change of variables formulas, and the right-hand sides of the equations in average elements. The evolution of the two-planet Sun-Jupiter-Saturn system was investigated by numerical integration over 10 billion years. The motion of the planets has an almost periodic character. The eccentricities and inclinations of Jupiter’s and Saturn’s orbits remain small but different from zero. The short-term disturbances remain small over the entire period considered in the study.     

Forced secondary resonances at the 3 : 1 commensurability

For the 3 : 1 Jovian resonance problem, the time scales of the two degrees of freedom of the resonant Hamiltonian are well-separated [5]. With the adiabatic approximation, the solution for the fast oscillations can be found in terms of the slowly varying variables. Thus the rapidly oscillating terms in the slow oscillation equations can be treated as forced terms. We refer to the resonance between the forcing and intrinsic frequencies as a forced secondary one in this paper. We discuss the forced secondary resonances in asteroidal motion at the 3 : 1 commensurability by using Wisdom's method. The results show that the orbits situated originally near the resonance will leave the neighbourhood of resonance and tend to the separatrices and critical points for different energies, respectively. We have not found any stochastic web as expected in this case. Moreover, we study the problem of validity on the approximation of a system.The Project Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China.     

Attitude stability of artificial satellites subject to gravity gradient torque

The stability of the rotational motion of artificial satellites is analyzed considering perturbations due to the gravity gradient torque, using a canonical formulation, and Andoyer’s variables to describe the rotational motion. The stability criteria employed requires the reduction of the Hamiltonian to a normal form around the stable equilibrium points. These points are determined through a numerical study of the Hamilton’s equations of motion and linear study of their stability. Subsequently a canonical linear transformation is used to diagonalize the matrix associated to the linear part of the system resulting in a normalized quadratic Hamiltonian. A semi-analytic process of normalization based on Lie–Hori algorithm is applied to obtain the Hamiltonian normalized up to the fourth order. Lyapunov stability of the equilibrium point is performed using Kovalev and Savchenko’s theorem. This semi-analytical approach was applied considering some data sets of hypothetical satellites, and only a few cases of stable motion were observed. This work can directly be useful for the satellite maintenance under the attitude stability requirements scenario.     

Translatory-rotatory motion of a gyrostat in a newtonian force field

The paper deals with a system made of two gyrostats attracting one another according to Newton's law. The Hamiltonian is expressed in the modified canonical variables of Delaunay and Serret-Andoyer. After straightforward eliminations and changes of variables, the problem is integrated in a particular case to the first order of perturbation by means of an infinitesimal contact transformation.     

The existence of transversal homoclinic orbits in a planar circular restricted four-body problem

In this paper, we study the existence of transversal homoclinic orbits in a planar circular restricted four-body problem, based on the perturbation theory of integrable Hamiltonian systems. We start from a planar circular restricted four-body model and regard it as a perturbation of the two-body model. Then, in order to conveniently study unbounded orbits, we transform the infinite points to finite points by a non-canonical transformation, arriving at a non-Hamiltonian system with degenerate fixed points. According to the extended Melnikov method, we finally prove that there exist transversal homoclinic orbits in this four-body model.     

Computer implementation of a new approach to the ideal resonance problem

A new approach to the librational solution of the Ideal Resonance Problem has been devised--one in which a non-canonical transformation is applied to the classical Hamiltonian to bring it to the form of the simple harmonic oscillator. Although the traditional form of the canonical equations of motion no longer holds, a quasi-canonical form is retained in this single-degree-of-freedom system, with the customary equations being multiplied by a non-constant factor. While this makes the resulting system amenable to traditional transformation techniques, it must then be integrated directly. Singularities of the transformation in the circulation region limit application of the method to the librational region of motion.Computer-assisted algebra has been used in all three stages of the solution to fourth order of this problem: using a general-purpose FORTRAN program for the quadratic analytical solution of Hamiltonians in action-angle variables, the initial transformation is carried out by direct substitution and the resulting Hamiltonian transformed to eliminate angular variables. The resulting system of differential equations, requiring the expected elliptic functions as part of their solution, is currently in the process of being integrated using the LISP-based REDUCE software, by programming the required recursive rules for elliptic integration.Basic theory of this approach and the computer implementation of all these techniques is described. Extension to higher order of the solution is also discussed.     

The relative motion of two spheroidal rigid bodies

We consider two spheroidal rigid bodies of comparable size constituting the components of an isolated binary system. We assume that (1) the bodies are homogeneous oblate ellipsoids of revolution, and (2) the meridional eccentricities of both components are small parameters.We obtain seven nonlinear differential equations governing simultaneously the relative motion of the two centroids and the rotational motion of each set of body axes. We seek solutions to these equations in the form of infinite series in the two meridional eccentricities.In the zero-order approximation (i. e., when the meridional eccentricities are neglected), the equations of motion separate into two independent subsystems. In this instance, the relative motion of the centroids is taken as a Kepler elliptic orbit of small eccentricity, whereas for each set of body axes we choose a composite motion consisting of a regular precession about an inertial axis and a uniform rotation about a body axis.The first part of the paper deals with the representation of the total potential energy of the binary system as an infinite series of the meridional eccentricities. For this purpose, we had to (1) derive a formula for representing the directional derivative of a solid harmonic as a combination of lower order harmonics, and (2) obtain the general term of a biaxial harmonic as a polynomial in the angular variables.In the second part, we expound a recurrent procedure whereby the approximations of various orders can be determined in terms of lower-order approximations. The rotational motion gives rise to linear differential equations with constant coefficients. In dealing with the translational motion, differential equations of the Hill type are encountered and are solved by means of power series in the orbital eccentricity. We give explicit solutions for the first-order approximation alone and identify critical values of the parameters which cause the motion to become unstable.The generality of the approach is tantamount to studying the evolution and asymptotic stability of the motion.Research performed under NASA Contract NAS5-11123.     

The two-body problem of a pseudo-rigid body and a rigid sphere

In this paper we consider the two-body problem of a spherical pseudo-rigid body and a rigid sphere. Due to the rotational and “re-labelling” symmetries, the system is shown to possess conservation of angular momentum and circulation. We follow a reduction procedure similar to that undertaken in the study of the two-body problem of a rigid body and a sphere so that the computed reduced non-canonical Hamiltonian takes a similar form. We then consider relative equilibria and show that the notions of locally central and planar equilibria coincide. Finally, we show that Riemann’s theorem on pseudo-rigid bodies has an extension to this system for planar relative equilibria.     

Non—integrability of Hill's lunar problem

We prove that Hill's lunar problem does not possess a second analytic integral of motion, independent of the Hamiltonian. In order to obtain this result, we avoid the usual normalization in which the angular velocity of the rotating reference frame is put equal to unit. We construct an artificial Hamiltonian that includes an arbitrary parameter b and show that this Hamiltonian does not possess an analytic integral of motion for in an open interval around zero. Then, by selecting suitable values of , b and using the invariance of the Hamiltonian under scaling in the units of length and time, we show that the Hamiltonian of Hill's problem does not possess an integral of motion, analytically continued from the integrable two–body problem in a rotating frame.