Parametric evolution of periodic orbits in the restricted four-body problem with radiation pressure

The backbone of the analysis in most dynamical systems is the study of periodic motions, since they greatly assist us to understand the structure of all possible motions. In this paper, we deal with the photogravitational version of the rectilinear restricted four-body problem and we investigate the dynamical behaviour of a small particle that is subjected to both the gravitational attraction and the radiation pressure of three bodies much bigger than the particle, the primaries. These bodies are always in syzygy and two of them have equal masses and are located at equal distances from the third primary. We study the effect of radiation on the distribution of the periodic orbits, their stability, as well as the evolution of the families and their main features.     

Elliptic Sitnikov five-body problem under radiation pressure

We consider the square configuration of photo-gravitational elliptic restricted five-body problem and study the Sitnikov motions. The four radiating primaries are of equal mass placed at the vertices of square and the fifth body having negligible mass performs oscillations along a straight line perpendicular to the orbital plane of the primaries. The motion of the fifth body is called vertical periodic motion and the main aim of this paper is to study the effect of radiation pressure on these periodic motions in the linear approximation. Moreover, the effects of radiation pressure on the motion of fifth body have been examined with the help of Poincare surfaces of section. By escalating the radiation pressure, surrounding periodic tubes and islands disappear and chaotic motion occurs near the hyperbolic points. Further, by escalating the radiation pressure, the main stochastic region joins the escaping one.     

Periodic orbits and bifurcations in the Sitnikov four-body problem

We study the existence, linear stability and bifurcations of what we call the Sitnikov family of straight line periodic orbits in the case of the restricted four-body problem, where the three equal mass primary bodies are rotating on a circle and the fourth (small body) is moving in the direction vertical to the center mass of the other three. In contrast to the restricted three-body Sitnikov problem, where the Sitnikov family has infinitely many stability intervals (hence infinitely many Sitnikov critical orbits), as the “family parameter” ż₀ varies within a finite interval (while z ₀ tends to infinity), in the four-body problem this family has only one stability interval and only twelve 3-dimensional (3D) families of symmetric periodic orbits exist which bifurcate from twelve corresponding critical Sitnikov periodic orbits. We also calculate the evolution of the characteristic curves of these 3D branch-families and determine their stability. More importantly, we study the phase space dynamics in the vicinity of these orbits in two ways: First, we use the SALI index to investigate the extent of bounded motion of the small particle off the z-axis along its interval of stable Sitnikov orbits, and secondly, through suitably chosen Poincaré maps, we chart the motion near one of the 3D families of plane-symmetric periodic orbits. Our study reveals in both cases a fascinating structure of ordered motion surrounded by “sticky” and chaotic orbits as well as orbits which rapidly escape to infinity.     

A restricted charged four-body problem

We consider a restricted charged four body problem which reduces to a two degrees of freedom Hamiltonian system, and prove the existence of infinite symmetric periodic orbits with arbitrarily large extremal period. Also, it is shown that an appropriate restriction of a Poincaré map of the system is conjugate to the shift homeomorphism on a certain symbolic alphabet.Partially supported by a grant of the CGICT no. P1386-0351.On leave of absence from Departamento de Fisica, Universidade de Lisboa. Partially supported by a grant of Fundaçao Calouste Gulbenkian no. 32/85/13.     

The circular restricted four-body problem

By generalizing the restricted three-body problem, we introduce the restricted four-body problem. We present a numerical study of this problem which includes a study of equilibrium points, regions of possible motion and periodic orbits. Our main motivation for introducing this problem is that it can be used as an intermediate step for a systematic exploration of the genral four-body problem. In an analogous way, one may introduce the restrictedN-body problem.     

Sitnikov five-body problem with combined effects of radiation pressure and oblateness

We study the motion of negligible mass in the frame work of Sitnikov five-body problem where four equal oblate spheroids known as primaries symmetrical in all respect are placed at the vertices of square. These primaries are also considered as source of radiations moving in a circular orbit around their common center of mass. The fifth negligible mass performs oscillations along z-axis which is perpendicular to the orbital plane of motion of the primaries and passes through the center of mass of the primaries. Under the combined effects of radiation pressure and oblateness, we have developed the series solution by the Lindstedt-Poincare technique and established averaged Hamiltonians by applying the Van der Pol transformation and averaging technique of Guckenheimer and Holmes (1983). The orbits such as regular, periodic, quasi-periodic, chaotic, or stochastic have been examined with the help of Poincare surfaces of section.     

The restricted 3-body problem with radiation pressure

The restricted 3-body problem is generalised to include the effects of an inverse square distance radiation pressure force on the infinitesimal mass due to the large masses, which are both arbitrarily luminous. A complete solution of the problems of existence and linear stability of the equilibrium points is given for all values of radiation pressures of both liminous bodies, and all values of mass ratios. It is shown that the inner Lagrange point, L₁, can be stable, but only when both large masses are luminous. Four equilibrium points, L₆, L₇, L₈, and L₉ can exist out of the orbital plane when the radiation pressure of the smaller mass is very high. Although L₈ and L₉ are always linearly unstable, L₆ and L₇ are stable for a small range of radiation pressures provided that both large masses are luminous.     

On the photo-gravitational restricted four-body problem with variable mass

This paper deals with the photo-gravitational restricted four-body problem (PR4BP) with variable mass. Following the procedure given by Gascheau (C. R. 16:393–394, 1843) and Routh (Proc. Lond. Math. Soc. 6:86–97, 1875), the conditions of linear stability of Lagrange triangle solution in the PR4BP are determined. The three radiating primaries having masses \(m_{1}\), \(m_{2}\) and \(m_{3}\) in an equilateral triangle with \(m_{2}=m_{3}\) will be stable as long as they satisfy the linear stability condition of the Lagrangian triangle solution. We have derived the equations of motion of the mentioned problem and observed that there exist eight libration points for a fixed value of parameters \(\gamma (\frac{m \ \text{at time} \ t}{m \ \text{at initial time}}, 0<\gamma\leq1 )\), \(\alpha\) (the proportionality constant in Jeans’ law (Astronomy and Cosmogony, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1928), \(0\leq\alpha\leq2.2\)), the mass parameter \(\mu=0.005\) and radiation parameters \(q_{i}, (0< q_{i}\leq1, i=1, 2, 3)\). All the libration points are non-collinear if \(q_{2}\neq q_{3}\). It has been observed that the collinear and out-of-plane libration points also exist for \(q_{2}=q_{3}\). In all the cases, each libration point is found to be unstable. Further, zero velocity curves (ZVCs) and Newton–Raphson basins of attraction are also discussed.     

Spatial collinear restricted four-body problem with repulsive Manev potential

We outline some aspects of the dynamics of an infinitesimal mass under the Newtonian attraction of three point masses in a symmetric collinear relative equilibria configuration when a repulsive Manev potential (\(-1/r +e/r^{2}\)), \(e>0\), is applied to the central mass. We investigate the relative equilibria of the infinitesimal mass and their linear stability as a function of the mass parameter \(\beta \), the ratio of mass of the central body to the mass of one of two remaining bodies, and e. We also prove the nonexistence of binary collisions between the central body and the infinitesimal mass.     

Equilibrium points in the photogravitational restricted four-body problem

We study numerically the photogravitational version of the problem of four bodies, where an infinitesimal particle is moving under the Newtonian gravitational attraction of three bodies which are finite, moving in circles around their center of mass fixed at the origin of the coordinate system, according to the solution of Lagrange where they are always at the vertices of an equilateral triangle. The fourth body does not affect the motion of the three bodies (primaries). We consider that the primary body m ₁ is dominant and is a source of radiation while the other two small primaries m ₂ and m ₃ are equal. In this case (photogravitational) we examine the linear stability of the Lagrange triangle solution. The allowed regions of motion as determined by the zero-velocity surface and corresponding equipotential curves, as well as the positions of the equilibrium points on the orbital plane are given. The existence and the number of the collinear and the non-collinear equilibrium points of the problem depends on the mass parameters of the primaries and the radiation factor q ₁. Critical masses m ₃ and radiation q ₁ associated with the existence and the number of the equilibrium points are given. The stability of the relative equilibrium solutions in all cases are also studied. In the last section we investigate the existence and location of the out of orbital plane equilibrium points of the problem. We found that such critical points exist. These points lie in the (x,z) plane in symmetrical positions with respect to (x,y) plane. The stability of these points are also examined.     

Transport orbits in an equilateral restricted four-body problem

In this paper we consider a restricted equilateral four-body problem where a particle of negligible mass is moving under the Newtonian gravitational attraction of three masses (called primaries) which move on circular orbits around their center of masses such that their configuration is always an equilateral triangle (Lagrangian configuration). We consider the case of two bodies of equal masses, which in adimensional units is the parameter of the problem. We study numerically the existence of families of unstable periodic orbits, whose invariant stable and unstable manifolds are responsible for the existence of homoclinic and heteroclinic connections, as well as of transit orbits traveling from and to different regions. We explore, for three different values of the mass parameter, what kind of transits and energy levels exist for which there are orbits with prescribed itineraries visiting the neighborhood of different primaries.     

Periodic solution of the nonlinear Sitnikov restricted three-body problem

The objective of this paper is to find periodic solutions of the circular Sitnikov problem by the multiple scales method which is used to remove the secular terms and find the periodic approximated solutions in closed forms. Comparisons among a numerical solution (NS), the first approximated solution (FA) and the second approximated solution (SA) via multiple scales method are investigated graphically under different initial conditions. We observe that the initial conditions play a vital role in the numerical and approximated solutions behaviour. The obtained motion is periodic, but the difference of its amplitude is directly proportional with the initial conditions. We prove that the obtained motion by the numerical or the second approximated solutions is a regular and periodic, when the infinitesimal body starts its motion from a nearer position to the common center of primaries. Otherwise when the start point distance of motion is far from this center, the numerical solution may not be represent a periodic motion for along time, while the second approximated solution may present a chaotic motion, however it is always periodic all time. But the obtained motion by the first approximated solution is periodic and has regularity in its periodicity all time. Finally we remark that the provided solutions by multiple scales methods reflect the true motion of the Sitnikov restricted three–body problem, and the second approximation has more accuracy than the first approximation. Moreover the solutions of multiple scales technique are more realistic than the numerical solution because there is always a warranty that the motion is periodic all time.     

Periodic orbits in the restricted four-body problem with two equal masses

The restricted (equilateral) four-body problem consists of three bodies of masses m ₁, m ₂ and m ₃ (called primaries) lying in a Lagrangian configuration of the three-body problem i.e., they remain fixed at the apices of an equilateral triangle in a rotating coordinate system. A massless fourth body moves under the Newtonian gravitation law due to the three primaries; as in the restricted three-body problem (R3BP), the fourth mass does not affect the motion of the three primaries. In this paper we explore symmetric periodic orbits of the restricted four-body problem (R4BP) for the case of two equal masses where they satisfy approximately the Routh’s critical value. We will classify them in nine families of periodic orbits. We offer an exhaustive study of each family and the stability of each of them.     

Families of periodic orbits in the restricted four-body problem

In this paper, families of simple symmetric and non-symmetric periodic orbits in the restricted four-body problem are presented. Three bodies of masses m ₁, m ₂ and m ₃ (primaries) lie always at the apices of an equilateral triangle, while each moves in circle about the center of mass of the system fixed at the origin of the coordinate system. A massless fourth body is moving under the Newtonian gravitational attraction of the primaries. The fourth body does not affect the motion of the three bodies. We investigate the evolution of these families and we study their linear stability in three cases, i.e. when the three primary bodies are equal, when two primaries are equal and finally when we have three unequal masses. Series, with respect to the mass m ₃, of critical periodic orbits as well as horizontal and vertical-critical periodic orbits of each family and in any case of the mass parameters are also calculated.     

Periodic orbits and bifurcations in the Sitnikov four-body problem when all primaries are oblate

We study the motions of an infinitesimal mass in the Sitnikov four-body problem in which three equal oblate spheroids (called primaries) symmetrical in all respect, are placed at the vertices of an equilateral triangle. These primaries are moving in circular orbits around their common center of mass. The fourth infinitesimal mass is moving along a line perpendicular to the plane of motion of the primaries and passing through the center of mass of the primaries. A relation between the oblateness-parameter ‘A’ and the increased sides ‘ε’ of the equilateral triangle during the motion is established. We confine our attention to one particular value of oblateness-parameter A=0.003. Only one stability region and 12 critical periodic orbits are found from which new three-dimensional families of symmetric periodic orbits bifurcate. 3-D families of symmetric periodic orbits, bifurcating from the 12 corresponding critical periodic orbits are determined. For A=0.005, observation shows that the stability region is wider than for A=0.003.     

Region of motion in the Sitnikov four-body problem when the fourth mass is finite

This article deals with the region of motion in the Sitnikov four-body problem where three bodies (called primaries) of equal masses fixed at the vertices of an equilateral triangle. Fourth mass which is finite confined to moves only along a line perpendicular to the instantaneous plane of the motions of the primaries. Contrary to the Sitnikov problem with one massless body the primaries are moving in non-Keplerian orbits about their centre of mass. It is investigated that for very small range of energy h the motion is possible only in small region of phase space. Condition of bounded motions has been derived. We have explored the structure of phase space with the help of properly chosen surfaces of section. Poincarè surfaces of section for the energy range ?0.480≤h≤?0.345 have been computed. We have chosen the plane (q ₁,p ₁) as surface of section, with q ₁ is the distance of a primary from the centre of mass. We plot the respective points when the fourth body crosses the plane q ₂=0. For low energy the central fixed point is stable but for higher value of energy splits in to an unstable and two stable fixed points. The central unstable fixed point once again splits for higher energy into a stable and three unstable fixed points. It is found that at h=?0.345 the whole phase space is filled with chaotic orbits.     

Stability regions of equilibrium points in restricted four-body problem with oblateness effects

In this paper, we extend the basic model of the restricted four-body problem introducing two bigger dominant primaries m ₁ and m ₂ as oblate spheroids when masses of the two primary bodies (m ₂ and m ₃) are equal. The aim of this study is to investigate the use of zero velocity surfaces and the Poincaré surfaces of section to determine the possible allowed boundary regions and the stability orbit of the equilibrium points. According to different values of Jacobi constant C, we can determine boundary region where the particle can move in possible permitted zones. The stability regions of the equilibrium points expanded due to presence of oblateness coefficient and various values of C, whereas for certain range of t (100≤t≤200), orbits form a shape of cote’s spiral. For different values of oblateness parameters A ₁ (0<A ₁<1) and A ₂ (0<A ₂<1), we obtain two collinear and six non-collinear equilibrium points. The non-collinear equilibrium points are stable when the mass parameter μ lies in the interval (0.0190637,0.647603). However, basins of attraction are constructed with the help of Newton Raphson method to demonstrate the convergence as well as divergence region of the equilibrium points. The nature of basins of attraction of the equilibrium points are less effected in presence and absence of oblateness coefficients A ₁ and A ₂ respectively in the proposed model.