Escape regions of a quartic potential

We investigate the escape regions of a quartic potential and the main types of irregular periodic orbits. Because of the symmetry of the model the zero velocity curve consists of four summetric arcs forming four open channels around the lines y = ± x through which an orbit can escape. Four unstable Lyapunov periodic orbits bridge these openings.We have found an infinite sequence of families of periodic orbits which is the outer boundary of one of the escape regions and several infinite sequences of periodic orbits inside this region that tend to homoclinic and heteroclinic orbits. Some of these sequences of periodic orbits tend to homoclinic orbits starting perpendicularly and ending asymptotically at the x-axis. The other sequences tend to heteroclinic orbits which intersect the x-axis perpendicularly for x > 0 and make infinite oscillations almost parallel to each of the two Lyapunov orbits which correspond to x > 0 or x < 0.     

Cylindrical isomorphic mapping applied to invariant manifold dynamics for Earth–Moon Missions

Several families of periodic orbits exist in the context of the circular restricted three-body problem. This work studies orbital motion of a spacecraft among these periodic orbits in the Earth–Moon system, using the planar circular restricted three-body problem model. A new cylindrical representation of the spacecraft phase space (i.e., position and velocity) is described, and allows representing periodic orbits and the related invariant manifolds. In the proximity of the libration points, the manifolds form a four-fold surface, if the cylindrical coordinates are employed. Orbits departing from the Earth and transiting toward the Moon correspond to the trajectories located inside this four-fold surface. The isomorphic mapping under consideration is also useful for describing the topology of the invariant manifolds, which exhibit a complex geometrical stretch-and-folding behavior as the associated trajectories reach increasing distances from the libration orbit. Moreover, the cylindrical representation reveals extremely useful for detecting periodic orbits around the primaries and the libration points, as well as the possible existence of heteroclinic connections. These are asymptotic trajectories that are ideally traveled at zero-propellant cost. This circumstance implies the possibility of performing concretely a variety of complex Earth–Moon missions, by combining different types of trajectory arcs belonging to the manifolds. This work studies also the possible application of manifold dynamics to defining a suitable, convenient end-of-life strategy for spacecraft placed in any of the unstable orbits. The final disposal orbit is an externally confined trajectory, never approaching the Earth or the Moon, and can be entered by means of a single velocity impulse (of modest magnitude) along the right unstable manifold that emanates from the Lyapunov orbit at \(L_2\) .     

Regular and irregular periodic orbits

We distinguish between regular orbits, that bifurcate from the main families of periodic orbits (those that exist also in the unperturbed case) and irregular periodic orbits, that are independent of the above. The genuine irregular families cannot be made to join the regular families by changing some parameters. We present evidence that all irregular families appear inside lobes formed by the asymptotic curves of the unstable periodic orbits. We study in particular a dynamical system of two degrees of freedom, that is symmetric with respect to the x-axis, and has also a triple resonance in its unperturbed form. The distribution of the periodic orbits (points on a Poincaré surface of section) shows some conspicuous lines composed of points of different multiplicities. The regular periodic orbits along these lines belong to Farey trees. But there are also lines composed mainly of irregular orbits. These are images of the x-axis in the map defined on the Poincaré surface of section. Higher order iterations of this map , close to the unstable triple periodic orbit, produce lines that are close to the asymptotic curves of this unstable orbit. The homoclinic tangle, formed by these asymptotic curves, contains many regular orbits, that were generated by bifurcation from the central orbit, but were trapped inside the tangle as the perturbation increased. We found some stable periodic orbits inside the homoclinic tangle, both regular and irregular. This proves that the homoclinic tangle is not completely chaotic, but contains gaps (islands of stability) filled with KAM curves.     

Order and chaos in spiral galaxies

Spiral galaxies contain both ordered and chaotic orbits. In normal spirals the perturbations are weak (of order 2–10%) and most orbits are ordered. The density wave theory refers mainly to linear perturbations. Nonlinear effects appear in the outer parts of the open spirals (S_b, S_c) and produce the termination of these spirals near the 4/1 resonance. On the other hand in barred spirals the perturbations are relatively strong (of order 100%). Then the outer spirals and the envelope of the bar are composed mainly of chaotic orbits, while the main body of the bar is composed of ordered orbits. The chaotic orbits of the spiral arms of strong barred galaxies are sticky, i.e. they do not escape from the galaxy for at least a Hubble time. The forms of these spirals are delineated by the unstable manifolds of the unstable periodic orbits L_1, L_2 near the ends of the bar and of other unstable periodic orbits inside and outside corotation.     

Boundary-value problem formulations for computing invariant manifolds and connecting orbits in the circular restricted three body problem

We demonstrate the remarkable effectiveness of boundary value formulations coupled to numerical continuation for the computation of stable and unstable manifolds in systems of ordinary differential equations. Specifically, we consider the circular restricted three-body problem (CR3BP), which models the motion of a satellite in an Earth–Moon-like system. The CR3BP has many well-known families of periodic orbits, such as the planar Lyapunov orbits and the non-planar vertical and halo orbits. We compute the unstable manifolds of selected vertical and halo orbits, which in several cases leads to the detection of heteroclinic connections from such a periodic orbit to invariant tori. Subsequent continuation of these connecting orbits with a suitable end point condition and allowing the energy level to vary leads to the further detection of apparent homoclinic connections from the base periodic orbit to itself, or the detection of heteroclinic connections from the base periodic orbit to other periodic orbits. Some of these connecting orbits are of potential interest in space mission design.     

The structure of chaos in a potential without escapes

We study the structure of chaos in a simple Hamiltonian system that does no have an escape energy. This system has 5 main periodic orbits that are represented on the surface of section by the points (1)O(0,0), (2)C ₁,C ₂(±y _c, 0), (3)B ₁,B ₂(O,±1) and (4) the boundary . The periodic orbits (1) and (4) have infinite transitions from stability (S) to instability (U) and vice-versa; the transition values of are given by simple approximate formulae. At every transitionS U a set of 4 asymptotic curves is formed atO. For larger the size and the oscillations of these curves grow until they destroy the closed invariant curves that surroundO, and they intersect the asymptotic curves of the orbitsC ₁,C ₂ at infinite heteroclinic points. At every transitionU S these asymptotic curves are duplicated and they start at two unstable invariant points bifurcating fromO. At the transition itself the asymptotic curves fromO are tangent to each other. The areas of the lobes fromO increase with ; these lobes increase even afterO becomes stable again. The asymptotic curves of the unstable periodic orbits follow certain rules. Whenever there are heteroclinic points the asymptotic curves of one unstable orbit approach the asymptotic curves of another unstable orbit in a definite way. Finally we study the tangencies and the spirals formed by the asymptotic curves of the orbitsB ₁,B ₂. We find indications that the number of spiral rotations tends to infinity as . Therefore new tangencies between the asymptotic curves appear for arbitrarily large . As a consequence there are infinite new families of stable periodic orbits that appear for arbitrarily large .     

Distribution of periodic orbits and the homoclinic tangle

We study the distribution of regular and irregular periodic orbits on a Poincaré surface of section of a simple Hamiltonian system of 2 degrees of freedom. We explain the appearance of many lines of periodic orbits that form Farey trees. There are also lines that are very close to the asymptotic curves of the unstable periodic orbits. Some regular orbits, sometimes stable, are found inside the homoclinic tangle. We explain this phenomenon, which shows that the homoclinic tangle does not cover the whole area around an unstable orbit, but has gaps. Inside the lobes only irregular orbits appear, and some of them are stable. We conjecture that the opposite is also true, i.e. all irregular orbits are inside lobes.     

Infinite Feigenbaum sequences and spirals in the vicinity of the Lagrangian periodic solutions

We studied systematically cases of the families of non-symmetric periodic orbits in the planar restricted three-body problem. We took interesting information about the evolution, stability and termination of bifurcating families of various multiplicities. We found that the main families of simple non-symmetric periodic orbits present a similar dynamical structure and bifurcation pattern. As the Jacobi constant changes each branch of the characteristic of a main family spirals around a focal point-terminating point in x- at which the Jacobi constant is C _∞ = 3 and their periodic orbits terminate at the corotation (at the Lagrangian point L₄ or L₅). As the family approaches asymptotically its termination point infinite changes of stability to instability and vice versa occur along its characteristic. Thus, infinite bifurcation points appear and each one of them produces infinite inverse Feigenbaum sequences. That is, every bifurcating family of a Feigenbaum sequence produces the same phenomenon and so on. Therefore, infinite spiral characteristics appear and each one of them generates infinite new inner spirals and so on. Each member of these infinite sets of the spirals reproduces a basic bifurcation pattern. Therefore, we have in general large unstable regions that generate large chaotic regions near the corotation points L₄, L₅, which are unstable. As C varies along the spiral characteristic of every bifurcating family, which approaches its focal point, infinite loops, one inside the other, surrounding the unstable triangular points L₄ or L₅ are formed on their orbits. So, each terminating point corresponds to an asymptotic non-symmetric periodic orbit that spirals into the corotation points L₄, L₅ with infinite period. This is a new mechanism that produces very large degree of stochasticity. These conclusions help us to comprehend better the motions around the points L₄ and L₅ of Lagrange.     

Chaotic spiral galaxies

We study the role of asymptotic curves in supporting the spiral structure of a N-body model simulating a barred spiral galaxy. Chaotic orbits with initial conditions on the unstable asymptotic manifolds of the main unstable periodic orbits follow the shape of the periodic orbits for an initial interval of time and then they are diffused outwards along the spiral structure of the galaxy. Chaotic orbits having small deviations from the unstable periodic orbits, stay close and along the corresponding unstable asymptotic manifolds, supporting the spiral structure for more than 10 rotations of the bar. Chaotic orbits of different Jacobi constants support different parts of the spiral structure. We also study the diffusion rate of chaotic orbits outwards and find that the orbits that support the outer parts of the galaxy are diffused outwards more slowly than the orbits supporting the inner parts of the spiral structure.     

Analytical and numerical manifolds in a symplectic 4-D map

We study analytically the orbits along the asymptotic manifolds from a complex unstable periodic orbit in a symplectic 4-D Froeschlé map. The orbits are given as convergent series. We compare the analytic results by truncating the series at various orders with the corresponding numerical results and we find agreement along a more extended length, as the order of truncation increases. The agreement is improved when the parameters approach those of the stability domain. Along the manifolds no terms with small divisors appear in the series. The same result is found if we use a parametrization method along the asymptotic curves. In the case of orbits starting close to the manifolds small divisors appear, but the orbits remain close to the manifolds for an extended period of time. If the parameters of the map are close to the stable domain the orbits recede and approach the origin several times and remain confined in a certain volume around the origin for a long time before escaping to large distances. For special sets of parameters we see resonance phenomena and the orbits take particular forms near every resonance.     

Lunar capture trajectories and homoclinic connections through isomorphic mapping

Analysis and design of low-energy transfers to the Moon has been a subject of great interest for many decades. This paper is concerned with a topological study of such transfers, with emphasis to trajectories that allow performing lunar capture and those that exhibit homoclinic connections, in the context of the circular restricted three-body problem. A fundamental theorem stated by Conley locates capture trajectories in the phase space and can be condensed in a sentence: “if a crossing asymptotic orbit exists then near any such there is a capture orbit”. In this work this fundamental theoretical assertion is used together with an original cylindrical isomorphic mapping of the phase space associated with the third body dynamics. For a given energy level, the stable and unstable invariant manifolds of the periodic Lyapunov orbit around the collinear interior Lagrange point are computed and represented in cylindrical coordinates as tubes that emanate from the transformed periodic orbit. These tubes exhibit complex geometrical features. Their intersections correspond to homoclinic orbits and determine the topological separation of long-term lunar capture orbits from short-duration capture trajectories. The isomorphic mapping is proven to allow a deep insight on the chaotic motion that characterizes the dynamics of the circular restricted three-body, and suggests an interesting interpretation, and together corroboration, of Conley’s assertion on the topological location of lunar capture orbits. Moreover, an alternative three-dimensional representation of the phase space is profitably employed to identify convenient lunar periodic orbits that can be entered with modest propellant consumption, starting from the Lyapunov orbit.     

A two-level perturbation method for connecting unstable periodic orbits with low fuel cost and short time of flight: application to a lunar observation mission

The proposed method connects two unstable periodic orbits by employing trajectories of their associated invariant manifolds that are perturbed in two levels. A first level of velocity perturbations is applied on the trajectories of the discretized manifolds at the points where they approach the nominal unstable periodic orbit in order to accelerate them. A second level of structured velocity perturbations is applied to trajectories that have already been subjected to first level perturbations in order to approximately meet the necessary conditions for a low \(\varDelta \text {V}\) transfer. Due to this two-level perturbation approach, the number of the trajectories obtained is significantly larger compared with approaches that employ traditional invariant manifolds. For this reason, the problem of connecting two unstable periodic orbits through perturbed trajectories of their manifolds is transformed into an equivalent discrete optimization problem that is solved with a very low computational complexity algorithm that is proposed in this paper. Finally, the method is applied to a lunar observation mission of practical interest and is found to perform considerably better in terms of \(\varDelta \text {V}\) cost and time of flight when compared with previous techniques applied to the same project.     

Periodic orbits and escapes in dynamical systems

We study the periodic orbits and the escapes in two different dynamical systems, namely (1) a classical system of two coupled oscillators, and (2) the Manko-Novikov metric which is a perturbation of the Kerr metric (a general relativistic system). We find their simple periodic orbits, their characteristics and their stability. Then we find their ordered and chaotic domains. As the energy goes beyond the escape energy, most chaotic orbits escape. In the first case we consider escapes to infinity, while in the second case we emphasize escapes to the central ??bumpy?? black hole. When the energy reaches its escape value, a particular family of periodic orbits reaches an infinite period and then the family disappears (the orbit escapes). As this family approaches termination it undergoes an infinity of equal period and double period bifurcations at transitions from stability to instability and vice versa. The bifurcating families continue to exist beyond the escape energy. We study the forms of the phase space for various energies, and the statistics of the chaotic and escaping orbits. The proportion of these orbits increases abruptly as the energy goes beyond the escape energy.     

Families of periodic orbits in the general three-body problem for the Sun-Jupiter-Saturn mass-ratio and their stability

Several families of planar planetary-type periodic orbits in the general three-body problem, in a rotating frame of reference, for the Sun-Jupiter-Saturn mass-ratio are found and their stability is studied. It is found that the configuration in which the orbit of the smaller planet is inside the orbit of the larger planet is, in general, more stable.We also develop a method to study the stability of a planar periodic motion with respect to vertical perturbations. Planetary periodic orbits with the orbits of the two planets not close to each other are found to be vertically stable. There are several periodic orbits that are stable in the plane but vertically unstable and vice versa. It is also shown that a vertical critical orbit in the plane can generate a monoparametric family of three-dimensional periodic orbits.     

Numerical study of periodic orbit properties in a dynamical system with three degrees of freedom

The locations and stability features of the main symmetrical periodic orbits in the potential $$V = \tfrac{1}{2}\left( {Ax^2 + By^2 + Cz^2 } \right) - \varepsilon xz^2 - \eta yz^2 with \sqrt {A:} \sqrt {B:} \sqrt C = 6:4:3$$ are calculated. Two resonant 1-periodic orbits reveal themselves to be the most important of the system. The third dimension and the additional coupling term have a large effect upon the emergence and stability of p.o. prolongated from the bi-dimensional cases 4∶3 and 2∶1. The existence of three main instability types leads to behaviours much more complicated than in systems with two degrees of freedom. Particularly the presence of complex instability, a new feature with respect to bi-dimensional problems, may produce large instability regions in the set of initial conditions. Some asymptotic curves emanating from unstable orbits are calculated in the four-dimensional space of section. The aspect of such curves is considerably modified when a perturbation is added in the third dimension. The neighbourhood of orbits suffering from complex instability is studied in the space of section and by means of the maximum Lyapunov Characteristic Number technique. It is shown that the motion can deviate far from the vicinity of the p.o. representative point as soon as the orbit is of complex instability. When the perturbation is large enough, the stochasticity produced by this type of instability can be very important.     

Symmetries and choreographies in families that bifurcate from the polygonal relative equilibrium of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-body problem

We use numerical continuation and bifurcation techniques in a boundary value setting to follow Lyapunov families of periodic orbits and subsequently bifurcating families. The Lyapunov families arise from the polygonal equilibrium of n bodies in a rotating frame of reference. When the frequency of a Lyapunov orbit and the frequency of the rotating frame have a rational relationship, then the orbit is also periodic in the inertial frame. We prove that a dense set of Lyapunov orbits, with frequencies satisfying a diophantine equation, correspond to choreographies. We present a sample of the many choreographies that we have determined numerically along the Lyapunov families and along bifurcating families, namely for the cases \(n=3\), 4, and 6–9. We also present numerical results for the case where there is a central body that affects the choreography, but that does not participate in it. Animations of the families and the choreographies can be seen at the link below.     

Optimal transfers between unstable periodic orbits using invariant manifolds

This paper presents a method to construct optimal transfers between unstable periodic orbits of differing energies using invariant manifolds. The transfers constructed in this method asymptotically depart the initial orbit on a trajectory contained within the unstable manifold of the initial orbit and later, asymptotically arrive at the final orbit on a trajectory contained within the stable manifold of the final orbit. Primer vector theory is applied to a transfer to determine the optimal maneuvers required to create the bridging trajectory that connects the unstable and stable manifold trajectories. Transfers are constructed between unstable periodic orbits in the Sun–Earth, Earth–Moon, and Jupiter-Europa three-body systems. Multiple solutions are found between the same initial and final orbits, where certain solutions retrace interior portions of the trajectory. All transfers created satisfy the conditions for optimality. The costs of transfers constructed using manifolds are compared to the costs of transfers constructed without the use of manifolds. In all cases, the total cost of the transfer is significantly lower when invariant manifolds are used in the transfer construction. In many cases, the transfers that employ invariant manifolds are three times more efficient, in terms of fuel expenditure, than the transfer that do not. The decrease in transfer cost is accompanied by an increase in transfer time of flight.     

The region of stable motions around a periodic eight-like orbit in the general three-body problem

We investigate the neighborhood of the periodic eight-like orbit found by Moore (1993) and Chenciner and Montgomery (2000). One-, two-, and three-dimensional scans in body coordinates, velocities, and masses were constructed. We found the regions of initial conditions in which the maximum mutual separation did not exceed 5 distance units during 2000 time units (about 300 periods of the initial solution). Larger deviations from the periodic solution lead to distant body ejections and escapes. The identified regions of finite motions are complex in structure. In some sections, these are simple-connected manifolds, while in other sections, stability zones alternate with escape zones. We estimated the fractal dimensions of the stability regions in three-dimensional scans: it typically ranges from 2 to 3. In some cases, we found transitions between motions along the figure of eight in its neighborhood and motions in the vicinity of a periodic Broucke orbit in the isosceles three-body problem.     

Simple three-dimensional periodic orbits in a galactic-type potential

We study the families of simple periodic orbits in a three-dimensional system that represents the inner parts of a perturbed triaxial galaxy. The perturbations depend on two control parameters. We find the regions where each family is stable, simply unstable, doubly unstable, or complex unstable. the stable and simply unstable families produce other families by bifurcation. Several families reach a maximum (or minimum) perturbation and then are continued by other families. The bifurcations are direct or inverse. The transition from one type of bifurcation to the other is theoretically explained. Another important phenomenon is the splitting of one family into two, or the joining of two families into one. We do not have any complex instability in the limiting cases of two-dimensional motions (when one control parameter is zero).The two main families of periodic orbits are in most cases stable when the energy is smaller than the escape energy. Most high energy orbits are unstable. However, we found stable orbits even for energies about four times larger than the escape energy.     

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.