Symplectic Tangent map for Planetary Motions

Equations are presented for the computation of tangent maps for use in nearly Keplerian motion, approximated by use of a symplectic leapfrog map. The resulting algorithms constitute more accurate and efficient methods to obtain the Liapunov exponents and the state transition matrix, and can be used to study chaos in planetary motions, as well as in orbit determination procedures from observations. Applications include planetary systems, satellite motions and hierarchical, nearly Keplerian systems in general. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Explicit adaptive symplectic integrators for solving Hamiltonian systems

We consider Sundman and Poincaré transformations for the long-time numerical integration of Hamiltonian systems whose evolution occurs at different time scales. The transformed systems are numerically integrated using explicit symplectic methods. The schemes we consider are explicit symplectic methods with adaptive time steps and they generalise other methods from the literature, while exhibiting a high performance. The Sundman transformation can also be used on non-Hamiltonian systems while the Poincaré transformation can be used, in some cases, with more efficient symplectic integrators. The performance of both transformations with different symplectic methods is analysed on several numerical examples.     

Deprit’s reduction of the nodes revisited

We revisit a set of symplectic variables introduced by Andre Deprit (Celest Mech 30, 181–195, 1983), which allows for a complete symplectic reduction in rotation invariant Hamiltonian systems, generalizing to arbitrary dimension Jacobi’s reduction of the nodes. In particular, we introduce an action-angle version of Deprit’s variables, connected to the Delaunay variables, and give a new hierarchical proof of the symplectic character of Deprit’s variables.     

Efficient Symplectic Integration of Satellite Orbits

The use of the extended phase space and time transformations for constructing efficient symplectic methods for computing the long term behavior of perturbed two‐body systems are discussed. Main applications are for artificial satellite orbits. The methods suggested here are efficient also for large eccentricities. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The Relative Lyapunov Indicator: An Efficient Method of Chaos Detection

A recently introduced chaos detection method, the relative Lyapunov indicator (RLI) is investigated in the cases of symplectic mappings and of a continuous Hamiltonian system. It is shown that the RLI is an efficient and easy-to-calculate numerical tool in determining the true nature of individual orbits, and in separating ordered and regular regions of the phase space of dynamical systems. An application of the RLI for stability investigations of some recently discovered exoplanetary systems is also presented.     

Recent progress in the theory and application of symplectic integrators

In this paper various aspect of symplectic integrators are reviewed. Symplectic integrators are numerical integration methods for Hamiltonian systems which are designed to conserve the symplectic structure exactly as the original flow. There are explicit symplectic schemes for systems of the formH=T(p)+V(q), and implicit schemes for general Hamiltonian systems. As a general property, symplectic integrators conserve the energy quite well and therefore an artificial damping (excitation) caused by the accumulation of the local truncation error cannot occur. Symplectic integrators have been applied to the Kepler problem, the motion of minor bodies in the solar system and the long-term evolution of outer planets.     

A pseudo third order symplectic integrator

The symplectic integrator has been regarded as one of the optimal tools for research on qualitative secular evolution of Hamiltonian systems in solar system dynamics. An integrable and separate Hamiltonian system H = H₀ + Σ_i=1^N ε_iH_i (ε_i ≪ 1) forms a pseudo third order symplectic integrator, whose accuracy is approximately equal to that of the first order corrector of the Wisdom-Holman second order symplectic integrator or that of the Forest-Ruth fourth order symplectic integrator. In addition, the symplectic algorithm with force gradients is also suited to the treatment of the Hamiltonian system H = H₀(q,p) + εH₁(q), with accuracy better than that of the original symplectic integrator but not superior to that of the corresponding pseudo higher order symplectic integrator.     

辛算法在动力天文中的应用（Ⅲ）

文［１］和文［２］从哈密顿系统的整体结构保持一角度阐明了辛算法［３－６］的主要功能，本文将从定量的角度进一步表明辛算法的另一独特优点－可以控制天体运动沿迹误差的快速增长，并对可分离哈密顿系统的显式辛差分格式稍加改进，推广应用到一般动力系统，该系统含有小耗散项或小的不可分离项，计算结果表明，效果极佳，因此，辛算法与传统的数值解法相比，确有很多优点。     

带电测试粒子在磁化史瓦西黑洞中的混沌运动

当史瓦西黑洞周围存在渐近均匀的外部磁场时, 描述带电粒子在史瓦西黑洞附近运动的哈密顿系统会变为不可积系统. 类似于这样的相对论哈密顿系统不存在有显式分析解的2部分分离形式, 给显式辛算法的构建和应用带来困难. 近一年以来的系列工作提出将相对论哈密顿系统分解为具有显式分析解的2个以上分离部分形式, 成功解决了许多相对论时空构建显式辛算法的难题. 最近的工作回答了哈密顿系统显式可积分离数目对长期数值积分精度有何影响、哪种显式辛算法有最佳长期数值性能这两个问题, 指出哈密顿有最小可积分离数目即3部分分裂解形式并且应用于优化的4阶分段龙格库塔显式辛算法可取得最好精度. 由此选择上述数值积分方法并利用庞加莱截面、最大李雅普诺夫指数和快速李雅普诺夫指标研究在磁化史瓦西黑洞附近运动的带电粒子轨道动力学. 结果显示: 针对某特定的粒子能量和角动量, 较小的外部磁场很难形成混沌轨道; 较大的正磁场参数容易使轨道产生混沌, 并且随着磁场的增大, 轨道的混沌程度也随之加强; 粒子能量适当变大也可以加剧混沌程度, 但负磁场参数和粒子角动量变大都会减弱混沌.     

Canonical Floquet theory

Classical Floquet theory is reviewed with careful attention to the case of repeated eigenvalues common in Hamiltonian systems. Floquet theory generates a canonical transformation to modal variables if the periodic matrix can be made symplectic at the initial time. It is shown that this symplectic normalization can always be carried out, again with careful attention to the degenerate case. The periodic modal vectors and canonical modal variables can always be chosen to be purely real. It is possible to introduce real valued action-angle variables for all modes. Physical interpretation of the canonical degenerate normal modal variables are offered. Finally, it is shown that this transformation enables canonical perturbation theory to be carried out using Floquet modal variables.     

Explicit Adaptive Symplectic (Easy) Integrators: A Scaling Invariant Generalisation of the Levi-Civitaand KS Regularisations

We present a generalisation of the Levi-Civita and Kustaanheimo-Stiefel regularisation. This allows the use of more general time rescalings. In particular, it is possible to find a regularisation which removes the singularity of the equations and preserves scaling invariance. In addition, these equations can, in certain cases, be integrated with explicit symplectic Runge-Kutta-Nyström methods. The combination of both techniques gives an explicit adaptive symplectic (EASY) integrator. We apply those methods to some perturbations of the Kepler problem and illustrate, by means of some numerical examples, when scaling invariant regularisations are more efficient that the LC/KS regularisation.     

Discrete Virial Theorem

We reexamine the classical virial theorem for bounded orbits of arbitrary autonomous Hamiltonian systems possessing both regular and chaotic orbits. New and useful forms of the virial theorem are obtained for natural Hamiltonian flows of arbitrary dimension. A discrete virial theorem is derived for invariant circles and periodic orbits of natural symplectic maps. A weak and a strong form of the virial theorem are proven for both flows and maps. While the Birkhoff Ergodic Theorem guarantees the existence of the relevant time averages for both regular and chaotic orbits, the convergence is very rapid for the former and extremely slow for the latter. This circumstance leads to a simple and efficient measure of chaoticity. The results are applied to several problems of current physical interest, including the Hénon–Heiles system, weak chaos in the standard map, and a 4D Froeschlé map.     

Explicit Symplectic Integrator for Rotating Satellites

An explicit symplectic integrator is constructed for the problem of a rotating planetary satellite on a Keplerian orbit. The spin vector is fixed perpendicularly to the orbital plane. The integrator is constructed according to the Wisdom-Holman approach: the Hamiltonian is separated in two parts so that one of them is multiplied by a small parameter. The parameter depends on the satellite’s shape or the eccentricity of its orbit. The leading part of the Hamiltonian for small eccentricity orbits is similar to the simple pendulum and hence integrable; the perturbation does not depend on angular momentum which implies a trivial ‘kick’ solution. In spite of the necessity to evaluate elliptic function at each step, the explicit symplectic integrator proves to be quite efficient. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

An Explicit Symplectic Integrator for Cometary Orbits

A new symplectic algorithm is developed for cometary orbit integrations. The integrator can handle both high-eccentricity orbits and close encounters with planets. The method is based on time transformations for Hamiltonians separated into Keplerian and perturbation parts. The adaptive time-step of this algorithm depends on the distance from a centre and the magnitude of perturbations. The explicit leapfrog technique is simple and efficient.     

Frequency analysis of a dynamical system

Frequency analysis is a new method for analyzing the stability of orbits in a conservative dynamical system. It was first devised in order to study the stability of the solar system (Laskar, Icarus, 88, 1990). It is a powerful method for analyzing weakly chaotic motion in hamiltonian systems or symplectic maps. For regular motions, it yields an analytical representation of the solutions. In cases of 2 degrees of freedom system with monotonous torsion, precise numerical criterions for the destruction of KAM tori can be found. For a 4D symplectic map, plotting the frequency map in the frequency plane provides a clear representation of the global dynamics and describes the actual Arnold web of the system.     

The long-term stability of extrasolar system HD 37124. Numerical study of resonance effects

We describe numerical tools for the stability analysis of extrasolar planetary systems. In particular, we consider the relative Poincaré variables and symplectic integration of the equations of motion. We apply the tangent map to derive a numerically efficient algorithm of the fast indicator Mean Exponential Growth factor of Nearby Orbits (MEGNO), a measure of the maximal Lyapunov exponent, that helps to distinguish chaotic and regular configurations. The results concerning the three-planet extrasolar system HD 37124 are presented and discussed. The best-fitting solutions found in earlier works are studied more closely. The system involves Jovian planets with similar masses. The orbits have moderate eccentricities, nevertheless the best-fitting solutions are found in dynamically active region of the phase space. The long-term stability of the system is determined by a net of low-order two-body and three-body mean motion resonances. In particular, the three-body resonances may induce strong chaos that leads to self-destruction of the system after Myr of apparently stable and bounded evolution. In such a case, numerically efficient dynamical maps are useful to resolve the fine structure of the phase space and to identify the sources of unstable behaviour.     

Symplectic Integrators: Rotations and Roundoff Errors

We investigate the numerical implementation of a symplectic integrator combined with a rotation (as in the case of an elongated rotating primary). We show that a straightforward implementation of the rotation as a matrix multiplication destroys the conservative property of the global integrator, due to roundoff errors. According to Blank et al. (1997), there exists a KAM-like theorem for twist maps, where the angle of rotation is a function of the radius. This theorem proves the existence of invariant tori which confine the orbit and prevent shifts in radius. We replace the rotation by a twist map or a combination of shears that display the same kind of behaviour and show that we are able not only to recover the conservative properties of the rotation, but also make it more efficient in term of computing time. Next we test the shear combination together with symplectic integrator of order 2, 4, and 6 on a Keplerian orbit. The resulting integrator is conservative down to the roundoff errors. No linear drift of the energy remains, only a divergence as the square root of the number of iterations is to be seen, as in a random walk. We finally test the three symplectic integrators on a real case problem of the orbit of a satellite around an elongated irregular fast rotating primary. We compare these integrators to the well-known general purpose, self-adaptative Bulirsch–Stoer integrator. The sixth order symplectic integrator is more accurate and faster than the Bulirsch–Stoer integrator. The second- and fourth- order integrators are faster, but of interest only when extreme speed is mandatory. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Lie group variational integrators for the full body problem in orbital mechanics

Equations of motion, referred to as full body models, are developed to describe the dynamics of rigid bodies acting under their mutual gravitational potential. Continuous equations of motion and discrete equations of motion are derived using Hamilton’s principle. These equations are expressed in an inertial frame and in relative coordinates. The discrete equations of motion, referred to as a Lie group variational integrator, provide a geometrically exact and numerically efficient computational method for simulating full body dynamics in orbital mechanics; they are symplectic and momentum preserving, and they exhibit good energy behavior for exponentially long time periods. They are also efficient in only requiring a single evaluation of the gravity forces and moments per time step. The Lie group variational integrator also preserves the group structure without the use of local charts, reprojection, or constraints. Computational results are given for the dynamics of two rigid dumbbell bodies acting under their mutual gravity; these computational results demonstrate the superiority of the Lie group variational integrator compared with integrators that are not symplectic or do not preserve the Lie group structure.     

Numerical experiments on the efficiency of second-order mixed-variable symplectic integrators for N-body problems

We discuss the efficiency of the so-called mixed-variable symplectic integrators for N-body problems. By performing numerical experiments, we first show that the evolution of the mean error in action-like variables is strongly dependent on the initial configuration of the system. Then we study the effect of changing the stepsize when dealing with problems including close encounters between a particle and a planet. Considering a previous study of the slow encounter between comet P/Oterma and Jupiter, we show that the overall orbital patterns can be reproduced, but this depends on the chosen value of the maximum integration stepsize. Moreover the Jacobi constant in a restricted three-body problem is not conserved anymore when the stepsize is changed frequently: over a 10⁵ year time span, to keep a relative error in this integral of motion of the same order as that given by a Bulirsch-Stoer integrator requires a very small integration stepsize and much more computing time. However, an integration of a sample including 10⁴ particles close to Neptune shows that the distributions of the variation of the elements over one orbital period of the particles obtained by the Bulirsch-Stoer integrator and the symplectic integrator up to a certain integration stepsize are rather similar. Therefore, mixed-variable symplectic integrators are efficient either for N-body problems which do not include close encounters or for statistical investigations on a big sample of particles.