Stability of equilibrium points 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 \(\mu_{c}\le\mu <\frac{1}{2}\), 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.     

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.     

The motion around the libration points in the restricted three-body problem with the effect of radiation and oblateness

This paper deals with the existence of libration points and their linear stability when the more massive primary is radiating and the smaller is an oblate spheroid. Our study includes the effects of oblateness of $\bar{J}_{2i}$ (i=1,2) with respect to the smaller primary in the restricted three-body problem. Under combining the perturbed forces that were mentioned before, the collinear points remain unstable and the triangular points are stable for 0<μ<μ _c , and unstable in the range $\mu_{c} \le\mu\le\frac{1}{2}$ , where $\mu_{c} \in(0,\frac{1}{2})$ , it is also observed that for these points the range of stability will decrease. The relations for periodic orbits around five libration points with their semimajor, semiminor axes, eccentricities, the frequencies of orbits and periods are found, furthermore for the orbits around the triangular points the orientation and the coefficients of long and short periodic terms also are found in the range 0<μ<μ _c .     

Motion in the generalized restricted three-body problem

This paper investigates the motion of an infinitesimal body in the generalized restricted three-body problem. It is generalized in the sense that both primaries are radiating, oblate bodies, together with the effect of gravitational potential from a belt. It derives equations of the motion, locates positions of the equilibrium points and examines their linear stability. It has been found that, in addition to the usual five equilibrium points, there appear two new collinear points L _n1, L _n2 due to the potential from the belt, and in the presence of all these perturbations, the equilibrium points L ₁, L ₃ come nearer to the primaries; while L ₂, L ₄, L ₅, L _n1 move towards the less massive primary and L _n2 moves away from it. The collinear equilibrium points remain unstable, while the triangular points are stable for 0<μ<μ _c and unstable for $\mu_{c} \le\mu\le\frac{1}{2}$ , where μ _c is the critical mass ratio influenced by the oblateness and radiation of the primaries and potential from the belt, all of which have destabilizing tendency. A practical application of this model could be the study of the motion of a dust particle near the oblate, radiating binary stars systems surrounded by a belt.     

Stability of Triangular Equilibrium Points in the Photogravitational Restricted Three-Body Problem with Oblateness and Potential from a Belt

We have examined the effects of oblateness up to J ₄ of the less massive primary and gravitational potential from a circum-binary belt on the linear stability of triangular equilibrium points in the circular restricted three-body problem, when the more massive primary emits electromagnetic radiation impinging on the other bodies of the system. Using analytical and numerical methods, we have found the triangular equilibrium points and examined their linear stability. The triangular equilibrium points move towards the line joining the primaries in the presence of any of these perturbations, except in the presence of oblateness up to J ₄ where the points move away from the line joining the primaries. It is observed that the triangular points are stable for 0 < μ < μ _c and unstable for \(\mu_{\mathrm{c}} \le \mu \le \frac {1}{2},\) where μ _c is the critical mass ratio affected by the oblateness up to J ₄ of the less massive primary, electromagnetic radiation of the more massive primary and potential from the belt, all of which have destabilizing tendencies, except the coefficient J₄ and the potential from the belt. A practical application of this model could be the study of motion of a dust particle near a radiating star and an oblate body surrounded by a belt.     

Combined effect of oblateness,radiation and a circular cluster of material points on the stability of triangular liberation points in the R3BP

This paper studies the motion of an infinitesimal mass in the framework of the restricted three-body problem (R3BP) under the assumption that the primaries of the system are radiating-oblate spheroids, enclosed by a circular cluster of material points. It examines the effects of radiation and oblateness up to J ₄ of the primaries and the potential created by the circular cluster, on the linear stability of the liberation locations of the infinitesimal mass. The liberation points are found to be stable for 0<μ<μ _c and unstable for $\mu_{c}\le\mu\le\frac{1}{2}$ , where μ _c is the critical mass value depending on terms which involve parameters that characterize the oblateness, radiation forces and the circular cluster of material points. The oblateness up to J ₄ of the primaries and the gravitational potential from the circular cluster of material points have stabilizing propensities, while the radiation of the primaries and the oblateness up to J ₂ of the primaries have destabilizing tendencies. The combined effect of these perturbations on the stability of the triangular liberation points is that, it has stabilizing propensity.     

Stability of equilibrium points in a CR3BP with oblate bodies enclosed by a circular cluster of material points

We have investigated an improved version of the classic restricted three-body problem where both primaries are considered oblate and are enclosed by a homogeneous circular planar cluster of material points centered at the mass center of the system. In this dynamical model we have examined the effect on the number and on the linear stability of the equilibrium locations of the small particle due to both, the primaries’ oblateness and the potential created by the circular cluster. We have drawn the zero-velocity surfaces and we have found that in addition to the usual five Lagrangian equilibrium points of the classic restricted three-body problem, there exist two new collinear points L _n1,L _n2 due to the potential from the circular cluster of material points. Numerical investigations reveal that with the increase in the mass of the circular cluster of material points, L _n2 comes nearer to the more massive primary, while L _n1 moves away from it. Owing to oblateness of the bodies, L _n1 comes nearer to the more massive primary, while L _n2 moves towards the less massive primary. The collinear equilibrium points remain unstable, while the triangular points are stable for 0<μ<μ _c and unstable for $\mu_{c} \le \mu \le \frac{1}{2}$ , where μ _c is the critical mass ratio influenced by oblateness of the primaries and the potential from the circular cluster of material points. The oblateness and the circular cluster of material points have destabilizing tendency.     

Effects of zonal harmonics and a circular cluster of material points on the stability of triangular equilibrium points in the R3BP

We have studied a modified version of the classical restricted three-body problem (CR3BP) where both primaries are considered as oblate spheroids and are surrounded by a homogeneous circular planar cluster of material points centered at the mass center of the system. In this dynamical model we have examined the effects of oblateness of both primaries up to zonal harmonic J ₄; together with gravitational potential from the circular cluster of material points on the existence and linear stability of the triangular equilibrium points. It is found that, the triangular points are stable for 0<μ<μ _c and unstable for $\mu_{c} \le \mu \le \frac{1}{2}$ , where μ _c is the critical mass ratio affected by the oblateness up to J ₄ of the primaries and potential from the circular cluster of material points. The coefficient J ₄ has stabilizing tendency, while J ₂ and the potential from the circular cluster of material points have destabilizing tendency. A practical application of this model could be the study of the motion of a dust particle near oblate bodies surrounded by a circular cluster of material points.     

Stability of the Triangular Points Under Combined Effects of Radiation and Oblateness in the Restricted Three-Body Problem

This paper deals with the existence of triangular points and their linear stability when the primaries are oblate spheroid and sources of radiation considering the effect of oblateness up to 10^?6 of main terms in the restricted three-body problem; we see that the locations of the triangular points are affected by the oblateness of the primaries and solar radiation pressure. It is further seen that these points are stable for 0 ≤ μ ≤μ _c ; and unstable for μ _c  ≤ μ ≤1/2; where μ _c is the critical mass value depending on terms which involve parameters that characterize the oblateness and radiation repulsive forces such that $ \mu_{c} \in (0,1/2) $ ; in addition to this an algorithm has been constructed to calculate the critical mass value.     

Combined effects of perturbations, radiation and oblateness on the periodic orbits in the restricted three-body problem

This paper investigates the periodic orbits around the triangular equilibrium points for 0<μ<μ _c , where μ _c is the critical mass value, under the combined influence of small perturbations in the Coriolis and the centrifugal forces respectively, together with the effects of oblateness and radiation pressures of the primaries. It is found that the perturbing forces affect the period, orientation and the eccentricities of the long and short periodic orbits.     

Equilibrium points and stability in the restricted three-body problem with oblateness and variable masses

The existence and stability of a test particle around the equilibrium points in the restricted three-body problem is generalized to include the effect of variations in oblateness of the first primary, small perturbations ϵ and ϵ′ given in the Coriolis and centrifugal forces α and β respectively, and radiation pressure of the second primary; in the case when the primaries vary their masses with time in accordance with the combined Meshcherskii law. For the autonomized system, we use a numerical evidence to compute the positions of the collinear points L _2κ , which exist for 0<κ<∞, where κ is a constant of a particular integral of the Gylden-Meshcherskii problem; oblateness of the first primary; radiation pressure of the second primary; the mass parameter ν and small perturbation in the centrifugal force. Real out of plane equilibrium points exist only for κ>1, provided the abscissae x < \fracn(k-1)b\xi<\frac{\nu(\kappa-1)}{\beta}. In the case of the triangular points, it is seen that these points exist for ϵ′<κ<∞ and are affected by the oblateness term, radiation pressure and the mass parameter. The linear stability of these equilibrium points is examined. It is seen that the collinear points L _2κ are stable for very small κ and the involved parameters, while the out of plane equilibrium points are unstable. The conditional stability of the triangular points depends on all the system parameters. Further, it is seen in the case of the triangular points, that the stabilizing or destabilizing behavior of the oblateness coefficient is controlled by κ, while those of the small perturbations depends on κ and whether these perturbations are positive or negative. However, the destabilizing behavior of the radiation pressure remains unaltered but grows weak or strong with increase or decrease in κ. This study reveals that oblateness coefficient can exhibit a stabilizing tendency in a certain range of κ, as against the findings of the RTBP with constant masses. Interestingly, in the region of stable motion, these parameters are void for k = \frac43\kappa=\frac{4}{3}. The decrease, increase or non existence in the region of stability of the triangular points depends on κ, oblateness of the first primary, small perturbations and the radiation pressure of the second body, as it is seen that the increasing region of stability becomes decreasing, while the decreasing region becomes increasing due to the inclusion of oblateness of the first primary.     

Effect of oblateness, perturbations, radiation and varying masses on the stability of equilibrium points in the restricted three-body problem

This paper investigates the combined effect of small perturbations ε,ε′ in the Coriolis and centrifugal forces, radiation pressure q _i , and changing oblateness of the primaries A _i (t) (i=1,2) on the stability of equilibrium points in the restricted three body problem in which the primaries is a supergiant eclipsing binary system which consists of a pair of bright oblate stars having the appearance of a giant peanut in space and their masses assumed to vary with time in the absence of reactive forces. The equations of motion are derived and the equilibrium points are obtained. For the autonomized system, it is seen that there are more than a pair of the triangular points as κ→∞; κ being the arbitrary sum of the masses of the primaries. In the case of the collinear points, two additional equilibrium points exist on the line joining the primaries when simultaneously κ+ε′<0 and both primaries are oblate, i.e., 0<α _i ?1. So there are five collinear equilibrium points in this case. Two non-planar equilibrium points exist for κ>1. Hence, there are at least nine equilibrium points of the system. The stability of these points is explored analytically and numerically. It is seen that the collinear and triangular points are stable with respect to certain conditions controlled by κ while the non-planar equilibrium points are unstable.     

Motion around the out-of-plane equilibrium points of the perturbed restricted three-body problem

This paper studies the motion of an infinitesimal body near the out-of-plane equilibrium points, L _6,7, in the perturbed restricted three-body problem. The problem is perturbed in the sense that the primaries of the system are oblate spheroids as well as sources of radiation and small perturbations are give to the Coriolis and centrifugal forces. It locates the positions and examines the stability of L _6,7 with a particular application to the binary system Struve 2398. It is observed that their positions are affected by the radiation, oblateness and a small perturbation in the centrifugal force, but is unaffected by that of the Coriolis force. They are also found to be unstable.     

Motion in a modified Chermnykh’s restricted three-body problem with oblateness

In this paper, the restricted problem of three bodies is generalized to include a case when the passively gravitating test particle is an oblate spheroid under effect of small perturbations in the Coriolis and centrifugal forces when the first primary is a source of radiation and the second one an oblate spheroid, coupled with the influence of the gravitational potential from the belt. The equilibrium points are found and it is seen that, in addition to the usual three collinear equilibrium points, there appear two new ones due to the potential from the belt and the mass ratio. Two triangular equilibrium points exist. These equilibria are affected by radiation of the first primary, small perturbation in the centrifugal force, oblateness of both the test particle and second primary and the effect arising from the mass of the belt. The linear stability of the equilibrium points is explored and the stability outcome of the collinear equilibrium points remains unstable. In the case of the triangular points, motion is stable with respect to some conditions which depend on the critical mass parameter; influenced by the small perturbations, radiating effect of the first primary, oblateness of the test body and second primary and the gravitational potential from the belt. The effects of each of the imposed free parameters are analyzed. The potential from the belt and small perturbation in the Coriolis force are stabilizing parameters while radiation, small perturbation in the centrifugal force and oblateness reduce the stable regions. The overall effect is that the region of stable motion increases under the combine action of these parameters. We have also found the frequencies of the long and short periodic motion around stable triangular points. Illustrative numerical exploration is rendered in the Sun–Jupiter and Sun–Earth systems where we show that in reality, for some values of the system parameters, the additional equilibrium points do not in general exist even when there is a belt to interact with.     

Analysis on the stability of triangular points in the perturbed photogravitational restricted three-body problem with variable masses

This paper examines the effect of a constant κ of a particular integral of the Gylden-Meshcherskii problem on the stability of the triangular points in the restricted three-body problem under the influence of small perturbations in the Coriolis and centrifugal forces, together with the effects of radiation pressure of the bigger primary, when the masses of the primaries vary in accordance with the unified Meshcherskii law. The triangular points of the autonomized system are found to be conditionally stable due to κ. We observed further that the stabilizing or destabilizing tendency of the Coriolis and centrifugal forces is controlled by κ, while the destabilizing effects of the radiation pressure remain unchanged but can be made strong or weak due to κ. The condition that the region of stability is increasing, decreasing or does not exist depend on this constant. The motion around the triangular points L _4,5 varying with time is studied using the Lyapunov Characteristic Numbers, and are found to be generally unstable.     

A Widebinary Solar Companion as a Possible Origin of Sedna-like Objects

Sedna is the first inner Oort cloud object to be discovered. Its dynamical origin remains unclear, and a possible mechanism is considered here. We investigate the parameter space of a hypothetical solar companion which could adiabatically detach the perihelion of a Neptune-dominated TNO with a Sedna-like semimajor axis. Demanding that the TNO’s maximum value of osculating perihelion exceed Sedna’s observed value of 76 AU, we find that the companion’s mass and orbital parameters (m _c , a _c , q _c , Q _c , i _c ) are restricted to $$m_c>rapprox 5\hskip.25em\hbox{M}_{\rm J}\left(\frac{Q_c}{7850\hbox{ AU}} \frac{q_c}{7850\hbox{ AU}}\right)^{3/2}$$ during the epoch of strongest perturbations. The ecliptic inclination of the companion should be in the range $45{\deg}\lessapprox i_c\lessapprox 135{\deg}$ if the TNO is to retain a small inclination while its perihelion is increased. We also consider the circumstances where the minimum value of osculating perihelion would pass the object to the dynamical dominance of Saturn and Jupiter, if allowed. It has previously been argued that an overpopulated band of outer Oort cloud comets with an anomalous distribution of orbital elements could be produced by a solar companion with present parameter values $$m_c\approx 5\hskip.25em\hbox{M}_{\rm J}\left(\frac{9000\hbox{ AU}}{a_c}\right)^{1/2}.$$ If the same hypothetical object is responsible for both observations, then it is likely recorded in the IRAS and possibly the 2MASS databases.     

On the stability of hierarchical four-body systems

Generalized Jacobian coordinates can be used to decompose anN-body dynamical system intoN-1 2-body systems coupled by perturbations. Hierarchical stability is defined as the property of preserving the hierarchical arrangement of these 2-body subsystems in such a way that orbit crossing is avoided. ForN=3 hierarchical stability can be ensured for an arbitrary span of time depending on the integralz=c ² h (angular momentum squared times energy): if it is smaller than a critical value, defined by theL ₂ collinear equilibrium configuration, then the three possible hierarchical arrangements correspond to three disconnected subsets of the invariant manifold in the phase space (and in the configuration space as well; see Milani and Nobili, 1983a). The same definitions can be extended, with the Jacobian formalism, to an arbitrary hierarchical arrangement ofN≥4 bodies, and the main confinement condition, the Easton inequality, can also be extended but it no longer provides separate regions of trapped motion, whatever is the value ofz for the wholeN-body system,N≥4. However, thez criterion of hierarchical stability applies to every 3-body subsystem, whosez ‘integral’ will of course vary in time because of the perturbations from the other bodies. In theN=4 case we decompose the system into two 3-body subsystems whosec ² h ‘integrals’,z ₂₃ andz ₃₄, att=0 are assumed to be smaller than the corresponding critical values \(\tilde z_{23} \) and \(\tilde z_{34} \) , so that both the subsystems are initially hierarchically stable. Then the hierarchical arrangement of the 4 bodies cannot be broken until eitherz ₂₃ orz ₃₄ is changed by an amount \(\tilde z_{ij} - z_{ij} \left( 0 \right)\) ; that is the whole system is hierarchically stable for a time spain not shorter than the minimum between \(\Delta t_{23} = {{\left( {\tilde z_{23} - z_{23} \left( 0 \right)} \right)} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{\left( {\tilde z_{23} - z_{23} \left( 0 \right)} \right)} {\dot z_{23} }}} \right. \kern-0em} {\dot z_{23} }}\) and \(\Delta t_{34} = {{\left( {\tilde z_{34} - z_{34} \left( 0 \right)} \right)} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{\left( {\tilde z_{34} - z_{34} \left( 0 \right)} \right)} {\dot z_{34} }}} \right. \kern-0em} {\dot z_{34} }}\) . To estimate how long is this stability time, two main steps are required. First the perturbing potentials have to be developed in series; the relevant small parameters are some combinations of mass ratios and length ratios, the? _ij of Roy and Walker. When an appropriate perturbation theory is based on the? _ij , the asymptotic expansions are much more rapidly decreasing than the usual expansions in powers of the mass ratios (as in the classical Lagrange perturbation theory) and can be extended also to cases such as lunar theory or double binaries. The second step is the computation of the time derivatives \(\dot z_{ij} \) (we limit ourselves to the planar case). To assess the long term behaviour of the system, we can neglect the short-periodic perturbations and discuss only the long-periodic and the secular perturbations. By using a Poisson bracket formalism, a generalization of Lagrange theorem for semimajor axes and a generalization of the classical first order theories for eccentricities and pericenters, we prove that thez _ij do not undergo any secular perturbation, because of the interaction with the other subsystem, at the first order in the? _ik . After the long-periodic perturbations have been accounted for, and apart from the small divisors problems that could arise both from ordinary and secular resonances, only the second order terms have to be considered in the computation of Δt ₂₃, Δt ₃₄. A full second order perturbative theory is beyond the scope of this paper; however an order-of-magnitude lower estimate of the Δt _ij can be obtained with the very pessimistic assumption that essentially all the second order terms affect in a secular way thez _ij . The same method could be applied also toN≥5 body systems. Since almost everyN-body system existing in nature is strongly hierarchical, the product of two? _ij is very small for almost all the real astronomical problems. As an example, the hierarchical stability of the 4-body system Sun, Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter is investigated; this system turns out to be stable for at least 110 million years. Although this hierarchical stability time is ～10 times less than the real age of the Solar System, taking into account that many pessimistic assumptions have been done we can conclude that the stability of the Solar System is no more a forbidden problem for Celestial Mechanics.     

Linear stability of equilibrium points in the generalized photogravitational Chermnykh’s problem

The equilibrium points and their linear stability has been discussed in the generalized photogravitational Chermnykh’s problem. The bigger primary is being considered as a source of radiation and small primary as an oblate spheroid. The effect of radiation pressure has been discussed numerically. The collinear points are linearly unstable and triangular points are stable in the sense of Lyapunov stability provided μ<μ _Routh =0.0385201. The effect of gravitational potential from the belt is also examined. The mathematical properties of this system are different from the classical restricted three body problem.     

The cosmogonic shadow effect

We consider the Alfvén-Arrhenius fall-down mechanism and describe an approximate model for the infall, capture and distribution of dust particles on a given magnetic field line and their possible neutralization at the ‘2’/3 points, the points at which the field aligned compnents of the gravitational and centrifugal forces are equal and opposite. We find that a small fraction (<10%) of an incoming particle distribution will actually contribute to the above ‘2’/3 fall-down process. We also show that if at the 2/3 points, the ratio of dust to plasma density is $$\frac{{n_D \left( {\tfrac{2}{3}} \right)}}{{n_p \left( {\tfrac{2}{3}} \right)}} > \frac{{10^{ - 3} }}{{r_{g_\mu } T_{eV} }}$$ . (r _gμ=radius of a grain in microns,T=plasma temperature in eV), then the dust particles will lose their charge, decouple from the field line and follow Keplerian orbits in accordance with the Alfvén-Arrhenius mechanism. We then determine the limits on the plasma parameters in order that rotation of a quasi-neutral plasma in thermal equilibrium be possible in the gravitational and dipole field of a rotating central body. The constraints imposed by the above conditions are rather weak, and the plasma parameters can have a wide range of values. For a plasma corotating with an angular velocity Ω～10^?4s^?1, we show that the plasma temperature and density must satisfy $$10^{ - 1}<< T_{(eV)}<< 10^2 ,10T_{eV}^2<< n^p \left( {cm^3 } \right)<< 10^6 $$ .     

Stability of the triangular Lagrange points beyond Gascheau��s value

We examine the stability of the triangular Lagrange points L ₄ and L ₅ for secondary masses larger than the Gascheau??s value ${\mu_{\rm G}= (1-\sqrt{23/27}/2)= 0.0385208\ldots}$ (also known as the Routh value) in the restricted, planar circular three-body problem. Above that limit the triangular Lagrange points are linearly unstable. Here we show that between??? _G and ${\mu \approx 0.039}$ , the L ₄ and L ₅ points are globally stable in the sense that a particle released at those points at zero velocity (in the corotating frame) remains in the vicinity of those points for an indefinite time. We also show that there exists a family of stable periodic orbits surrounding L ₄ or L ₅ for ${\mu \ge \mu_G}$ . We show that??? _G is actually the first value of a series ${\mu_0 (=\mu_G), \mu_1,\ldots, \mu_i,\ldots}$ corresponding to successive period doublings of the orbits, which exhibit ${1, 2, \ldots, 2^i,\ldots}$ cycles around L ₄ or L ₅. Those orbits follow a Feigenbaum cascade leading to disappearance into chaos at a value ${\mu_\infty = 0.0463004\ldots}$ which generalizes Gascheau??s work.