An equation for the characteristic curve of a family of symmetric periodic orbits

Szebehely's equation for the inverse problem of Dynamics is used to obtain the equation of the characteristic curve of a familyf(x,y)=c of planar periodic orbits (crossing perpendicularly thex-axis) created by a certain potentialV(x,y). Analytic expressions for the characteristic curves are found both in sideral and synodic systems. Examples are offered for both cases. It is shown also that from a given characteristic curve, associated with a given potential, one can obtain an analytic expression for the slope of the orbit at any point.     

Solution of the three-dimensional inverse problem

The three dimensional inverse problem for a material point of unit mass, moving in an autonomous conservative field, is solved. Given a two-parametric family of space curvesf(x, y, z)=c ₁,g(x, y, z)=c ₂, it is shown that, in general, no potentialU=U(x, y, z) exists which can give rise to this family. However, if the given functionsf(x, y, z) andg(x, y, z) satisfy certain conditions, the corresponding potentialU(x, y, z), as well as the total energyE=E(f, g) are determined uniquely, apart from a multiplicative and an additive constant.     

Inverse problem with two-parametric families of planar orbits

As a possible extension of recent work we study the following version of the inverse problem in dynamics: Given a two-parametric familyf(x, y, b)=c of plane curves, find an autonomous dynamical system for which these curves are orbits.We derive a new linear partial differential equation of the first order for the force componentsX(x, y) andY(x, y) corresponding to the given family. With the aid of this equation we find that, depending on the given functionf, the problem may or may not have a solution. Based on given criteria, we present a full classification of the various cases which may arise.     

On the adelphic potentials compatible with a set of planar orbits

Given a planar potentialB=B(x, y), compatible with a monoparametric family of planar orbitsf(x, y)=c, we face the problem of producing potentialsA=A(x, y), adelphic toB(x, y), i.e. nontrivial potentials which have in common withB(x, y) the given set of orbits. We establish a linear, second order partial differential equation for a functionP(x, y) and we prove that, to any definite positive solution of this equation, there corresponds a potentialA(x, y) adelphic toB(x, y).     

Family boundary curves for autonomous dynamical systems

The notion of the family boundary curves (FBC), introduced recently for two-dimensional conservative systems, is extended to account for, generally, nonconservative autonomous systems of two degrees of freedom. Formulae are found for the force componentsX (x, y),Y (x, y) which produce a preassigned family of orbitsf(x, y)=c lying inside a preassigned, open or closed, regionB(x, y)0 of the xy plane.     

Solvable cases of Szebehely's equation

Szebehely’s equation is a first order partial differential equation relating a given family of orbits f (x, y) = q traced by a unit mass material point, the total energy E=E(f), and the unknown potential V=V (x, y) which produces the family. Although linear in V, this equation cannot generally be solved. In this paper we develop the reasoning for finding several cases for which Szebehely’s equation can be solved by quadratures. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Determination of autonomous three-dimensional force fields from a two-parameter family of orbits

Any two of the componentsX, Y, andZ of an autonomous force field which gives rise to the space orbitsF(x, y, z)=c ₁,G(x, y, z)=c ₂ are related by a partial differential equation with coefficients depending on the functionsF andG. This is a generalization of the corresponding equation for planar orbits (Bozis, 1983). The above partial differential equation is accompanied by the algebraic linear equation inX, Y, andZ expressing the fact that the force vector is lying in the osculating plane at each point of the orbit. The two equations constitute a generalization of the corresponding Szebehely's equations in the three dimensional space (Érdi, 1982). The generalization is meant in the sense that the dynamical system is not necessarily assumed to be conservative.     

Families of planar orbits generated by homogeneous potentials

The second order partial differential equation which relates the potentialV(x,y) to a family of planar orbitsf(x,y)=c generated by this potential is applied for the case of homogeneousV(x,y) of any degreem. It is shown that, if the functionf(x,y) is also homogeneous, there exists, for eachm, a monoparametric set of homogeneous potentials which are the solutions of an ordinary, linear differential equation of the second order. Iff(x,y) is not homogeneous, in general, there is not a homogeneous potential which can create the given family; only if =f _y /f _x satisfies two conditions, a homogeneous potential does exist and can be determined uniquely, apart from a multiplicative constant. Examples are offered for all cases.     

The elliptic restricted problem at the 3 : 1 resonance

Four 3 : 1 resonant families of periodic orbits of the planar elliptic restricted three-body problem, in the Sun-Jupiter-asteroid system, have been computed. These families bifurcate from known families of the circular problem, which are also presented. Two of them, I _c , II _c bifurcate from the unstable region of the family of periodic orbits of the first kind (circular orbits of the asteroid) and are unstable and the other two, I _e , II _e , from the stable resonant 3 : 1 family of periodic orbits of the second kind (elliptic orbits of the asteroid). One of them is stable and the other is unstable. All the families of periodic orbits of the circular and the elliptic problem are compared with the corresponding fixed points of the averaged model used by several authors. The coincidence is good for the fixed points of the circular averaged model and the two families of the fixed points of the elliptic model corresponding to the families I _c , II _c , but is poor for the families I _e , II _e . A simple correction term to the averaged Hamiltonian of the elliptic model is proposed in this latter case, which makes the coincidence good. This, in fact, is equivalent to the construction of a new dynamical system, very close to the original one, which is simple and whose phase space has all the basic features of the elliptic restricted three-body problem.     

Generalization of Szebehely's equation

Szebehely's partial differential equation for the force functionU=U(x,y) which gives rise to a given family of planar orbitsf(x,y)=Constant is generalized to account for velocity-dependent potentials V^*=V^*(x,y, ). The new partial differential equation is quasi-linear and of the first order. An example is given and a comparison is made of the two equations.     

Families of three-dimensional plane-symmetric periodic orbits in the restricted three-body problem: Sun-Jupiter case

Two new families of three-dimensional simple-symmetric periodic orbits are determined numerically in the Sun-Jupiter case of the restricted three-body problem. These families emanate from the vertical-critical orbits (_v = 1,c _v = 0)of the familiesi andl of plane symmetric simpleperiodic orbits direct around the Sun and the Sun-Jupiter respectively. Further, the numerical technique employed in the determination of these families has been described and interesting results have been pointed out. Also, computer plots of the orbits of these families have been shown in conical projections.     

Analytic continuation of periodic orbits from equilibria of two-degree-of-freedom systems in rotating coordinates

A new theory is formulated for the analytic continuation of periodic (and aperiodic) orbits from equilibrium solutions of a two-degree-of-freedom dynamical system in rotating coordinates:% MathType!MTEF!2!1!+-% feaafeart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn% hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXafv3ySLgzGmvETj2BSbqefm0B1jxALjhiov2D% aebbfv3ySLgzGueE0jxyaibaiiYdd9qrFfea0dXdf9vqai-hEir8Ve% ea0de9qq-hbrpepeea0db9q8as0-LqLs-Jirpepeea0-as0Fb9pgea% 0lrP0xe9Fve9Fve9qapdbaqaaeGacaGaaiaabeqaamaabaabcaGcba% acbiGab8xDayaacaGaa8xlaiaa-jdacaWFUbGaeqyXduNaa8xpaiaa% -zfadaWgaaWcbaGccaWF4baaleqaaOGaaiilaiqbew8a1zaacaGaey% 4kaSIaaGOmaiaad6gacaWG1bGaeyypa0Jaa8NvamaaBaaaleaakiaa% -LhaaSqabaGccaGGSaGabmiEayaacaGaeyypa0JaamyDaiaacYcace% WG5bGbaiaacqGH9aqpcqaHfpqDaaa!54CD!\[\dot u - 2n\upsilon = V_x ,\dot \upsilon + 2nu = V_y ,\dot x = u,\dot y = \upsilon \]Away from resonance, a family of nonlinear, normal-mode orbits defines an autonomous velocity field u(x, y), u(x, y) represented by convergent algebraic-series expansions in the two position variables. This approach is useful for determining the global structure of solution curves and nonlinear stability of normal modes using Liapunov's direct method. At resonance, the series coefficients are time dependent because stationary modes are incompatible with the equations of motion. By eliminating small divisors, explicit time dependence provides a natural transition from non-resonance to resonance cases within the same theory.     

Three-dimensional periodic oscillations generating from plane periodic ones around the collinear Lagrangian points

The three families of three-dimensional periodic oscillations which include the infinitesimal periodic oscillations about the Lagrangian equilibrium pointsL ₁,L ₂ andL ₃ are computed for the value =0.00095 (Sun-Jupiter case) of the mass parameter. From the first two vertically critical (|a _v |=1) members of the familiesa, b andc, six families of periodic orbits in three dimensions are found to bifurcate. These families are presented here together with their stability characteristics. The orbits of the nine families computed are of all types of symmetryA, B andC. Finally, examples of bifurcations between families of three-dimensional periodic solutions of different type of symmetry are given.     

The Third Integral in a Self-consistent Galactic Model

We apply the theory of the third integral to a self-consistent galactic model, generated by the collapse of a N-body system. The final configuration after the collapse is a stationary triaxial system, that represents an almost prolate non-rotating elliptical galaxy with its longest axis in the z-direction. This system is represented by an axisymmetric potential V plus a small triaxial perturbation V ₁. The orbits in the potential V are of three types: box orbits, tube orbits (corresponding to various resonances), and chaotic orbits.The intersections of the box and tube orbits by a Poincaré surface of section z=0 are closed invariant curves. The main tube orbits are like ellipses and form an island of stability on the (R,R) plane.We calculated the third integral I in the potential V for the general non-resonant case and for various resonant cases. The agreement between the invariant curves of the orbits and the level curves of the third integral is good for the box and tube orbits, if we truncate the third integral at an appropriate level. As expected the third integral fails in the case of chaotic orbits. The most important result is the form of the number density F on the Poincaré surface of section. This function decreases exponentially outwards for the box orbits, like Fexp(–bI), while it is constant, as expected, for the chaotic orbits. In the case of the island of the main tube orbits it has a minimum at the center of the island. This can be explained by the form of the near elliptical orbits that are elongated along R, thus they fail to support a self-consistent galaxy, which is elongated along the z-axis.     

Intrinsic stability of periodic orbits

Families of orbits of a conservative, two degree-of-freedom system are represented by an unsteady velocity field with componentsu(x, y, t) andv(x, y, t). Intrinsic stability properties depend on velocity field divergence and curl, whose dynamical evolution is determined by a matrix Riccati equation. Near equilibrium, divergence-free or irrotational fields are dynamically compatible with the conservative force field. It is shown that a necessary condition for stable periodic orbits is satisfied when the orbitaveraged divergence is zero, which results in bounded normal variations. A sufficient condition for stability is derived from the requirement that tangential variations do not exhibit secular growth.In a steady, divergence-free field, velocity component functionsu(x, y) andv(x, y) may be continuedanalytically from any initial condition, except when velocity is parallel to U or at equilibria. In an unsteady field, the orbit-averaged divergence is zero when the vorticity function is periodic. When such a field exists, initial conditions for stable periodic orbits (i.e., characteristic loci) may be determinedanalytically.     

Numerical determination of families of three-dimensional double-symmetric periodic orbits in the restricted three-body problem,II

New families of three-dimensional double-symmetric periodic orbits are determined numerically in the Sun-Jupiter case of the restricted three-body problem. These families bifurcate from the vertical-critical orbits ( _v = – 1, b _v – 0) of the basic plane familiesi, g ₁, g₂, c andI. Further, the predictor-corrector procedure employed to reveal these families has been described and interesting numerical results have been pointed out. Also, computer plots of the orbits of these families have been shown in conical projections.     

Numerical determination of families of three-dimensional double-symmetric periodic orbits in the restricted three-body problem. I.

New families of three-dimensional double-symmetric periodic orbits are determined numerically in the Sun-Jupiter case of the restricted three-body problem. These families bifurcate from the vertical-critical orbits ( _v = –1,c _v ),c _v=0) of the basic plane familiesi,g ₁,g ₂,h,a,m andl. Further the numerical procedure employed in the determination of these families has been described and interesting results have been pointed out. Also, computer plots of the orbits of these families have been shown in conical projections.     

On asteroid distribution

The existing explanations for the asteroid distribution in the main belt (between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter) are based on numerical integration of resonance orbits in models with more than two degrees of freedom. We suggest an approach based on the investigation of the families of periodic solutions of the planar circular restricted three-body problem, i.e., a model with two degrees of freedom. This work shows that (a) the distribution of asteroids near the (p + 1)/p resonances and position of the outer boundary of the main asteroid belt can be explained within the planar circular restricted three-body problem and (b) this problem does not explain the asteroid distribution near other resonances.     

Characteristics of resonant periodic orbits

We study the families of periodic orbits in a time-independent two-dimensional potential field symmetric with respect to both axes. By numerical calculations we find characteristic curves of several families of periodic orbits when the ratio of the unperturbed frequencies isA ^1/2/B ^1/2=2/1. There are two groups of characteristic curves: (a) The basic characteristic and the characteristics which bifurcate from it. (b) The characteristics which start from the boundary line and the axisx=0.     

Families of orbits in planar anisotropic fields

The aim of the planar inverse problem of dynamics is: given a monoparametric family of curves f(x, y) = c, find the potential V (x, y) under whose action a material point of unit mass can describe the curves of the family. In this study we look for V in the class of the anisotropic potentials V(x, y) = v(a²x² + y²), (a=constant). These potentials have been used lately in the search of connections between classical, quantum, and relativistic mechanics. We establish a general condition which must be satisfied by all the families produced by an anisotropic potential. We treat special cases regarding the families (e. g. families traced isoenergetically) and we present certain pertinent examples of compatible pairs of families of curves and anisotropic potentials. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)