A number of irregular moons of the Jovian planets have recently been discovered. Most adequate way of their origin is capture, but detailed mechanism is unknown. A few possibilities are discussed: collisions, gas drag, tidal destruction of a binary asteroid. In this paper the capture process in restricted four body problem (RFBP) is researched. The interaction with regular satellite can be studied by this way as well as binary asteroid destruction in Hill sphere of planet. The energetic criteria of ballistic capture are studied and some numerical experiments are developed. It is confirmed, that capture in four body problem is more probable on retrograde than on prograde orbit. In according with our results, encounter with regular satellites is more effective mechanism to create an irregular satellite population, than a binary asteroid flyby.
We numerically investigate the case of the planar circular restricted three-body problem where the more massive primary is an oblate spheroid. A thorough numerical analysis takes place in the configuration $(x,y)$ and the $(x,E)$ space in which we classify initial conditions of orbits into three categories: (i) bounded, (ii) escaping and (iii) collisional. Our results reveal that the oblateness coefficient has a huge impact on the character of orbits. Interpreting the collisional motion as leaking in the phase space we related our results to both chaotic scattering and the theory of leaking Ha…
For a body with negligible mass moving in the gravitational field of a star and one planet in a circular orbit (the circular restricted three-body problem) five equilibrium points exist and are known as the Lagrangian points. The positions of the Lagrangian points are not valid for dust particles because in the derivation of the Lagrangian points is assumed that no other forces beside the gravitation act on the body with negligible mass. Here we determined positions of the equilibrium points for the dust particles in the circular restricted three-body problem with radiation. The equilibrium po…
The halo orbits of the spatial circular restricted three-body problem are largely considered in space-flight dynamics to design low-energy transfers between celestial bodies. A very efficient analytical method for the computation of halo orbits, and the related transfers, has been obtained from the high-order resonant Birkhoff normal forms defined at the Lagrangian points L1-L2. In this paper, by implementing a non-linear Floquet-Birkhoff resonant normal form, we provide the definition of orbits, as well as their manifold tubes, which exist in a large order approximation of the elliptic three-…
In the framework of restricted five bodies problem, the existence and stability of the libration points are explored and analysed numerically, under the effect of non--isotropic mass variation of the fifth body (test particle or infinitesimal body). The evolution of the positions of these points and the possible regions of motion are illustrated, as a function of the perturbation parameter. We perform a systematic investigation in an attempt to understand how the perturbation parameter due to variable mass of the fifth body, affects the positions, movement and stability of the libration points…
The equations of motion of planar elliptic restricted three body problem are transformed to four decoupled Hill's equations. By using the Floquet theorem analytic solution to the oscillator equations with time dependent periodic coefficients are presented. We show that the new analytic approach is valid for system parameters $0 < e \leq 0.05$ and $0 < μ\leq 0.01$ where $e$ denotes the eccentricity of primaries while $μ$ is the mass parameter, respectively. We also clarify the transformation details that provide the applicability of the method.
In the framework of photogravitational version of the restricted five-body problem, the existence and stability of the in-plane equilibrium points, the possible regions for motion are explored and analysed numerically, under the combined effect of small perturbations in the Coriolis and centrifugal forces. Moreover, the multivariate version of the Newton-Raphson iterative scheme is applied in an attempt to unveil the topology of the basins of convergence linked with the libration points as function of radiation parameters, and the parameters corresponding to Coriolis and centrifugal forces.
We study the effect of the radiation parameter in the location, stability and orbital dynamics in the Lagrange configuration of the restricted four-body problem when one of the primaries is a radiating body. The equations of motion for the test particle are derived by assuming that the primaries revolve in the same plane with uniform angular velocity, and regardless of their mass distribution, they will always lie at the vertices of an equilateral triangle. The insertion of the radiation factor in the restricted four-body problem, let us model more realistically the dynamics of a test particle…
Many unstable periodic orbits of the planar circular restricted 3-body problem (PCRTBP) persist as invariant tori when a periodic forcing is added to the equations of motion. In this study, we compute tori corresponding to exterior Jupiter-Europa and interior Jupiter-Ganymede PCRTBP resonant periodic orbits in a concentric circular restricted 4-body problem (CCR4BP). Motivated by the 2:1 Laplace resonance between Europa and Ganymede's orbits, we then attempt the continuation of a Jupiter-Europa 3:4 resonant orbit from the CCR4BP into the Jupiter-Ganymede PCRTBP. We strongly believe that the re…
The analysis of the affect of angular velocity on the geometry of the basins of convergence (BoC) linked to the equilibrium points in the restricted three-body problem is illustrated when the primaries are source of radiation. The bivariate scheme of the Newton-Raphson (N-R) iterative method has been used to discuss the topology of the basins of convergence. The parametric evolution of the fractality of the convergence plane is also presented where the degree of fractality is illustrated by evaluating the basin entropy of the convergence plane.
This paper is devoted to the study of secondary resonances and the stability of the Lagrangian point L4 in the spatial restricted three-body problem for moderate mass ratios (mu), meaning that mu is smaller than 0.0045. However, we concentrated our investigations on small mass ratios for mu smaller than 0.001, which represent the mass ratios for stable configurations of tadpole orbits in the Solar system. The stability is investigated by numerical methods, computing stability maps in different parameter planes. We started investigating the mass of the secondary; from Earth-mass bodies up to Ju…
The case of the planar circular photogravitational restricted three-body problem where the more massive primary is an emitter of radiation is numerically investigated. A thorough numerical analysis takes place in the configuration $(x,y)$ and the $(x,C)$ space in which we classify initial conditions of orbits into three main categories: (i) bounded, (ii) escaping and (iii) collisional. Our results reveal that the radiation pressure factor has a huge impact on the character of orbits. Interpreting the collisional motion as leaking in the phase space we related our results to both chaotic scatte…
When the planar circular restricted 3-body problem (RTBP) is periodically perturbed, families of unstable periodic orbits break up into whiskered tori, with most tori persisting into the perturbed system. In this study, we 1) develop a quasi-Newton method which simultaneously solves for the tori and their center, stable, and unstable directions; 2) implement continuation by both perturbation as well as rotation numbers; 3) compute Fourier-Taylor parameterizations of the stable and unstable manifolds; 4) regularize the equations of motion; and 5) globalize these manifolds. Our methodology impro…
We study the dynamical chaos and integrable motion in the planar circular restricted three-body problem and determine the fractal dimension of the spiral strange repeller set of non-escaping orbits at different values of mass ratio of binary bodies and of Jacobi integral of motion. We find that the spiral fractal structure of the Poincaré section leads to a spiral density distribution of particles remaining in the system. We also show that the initial exponential drop of survival probability with time is followed by the algebraic decay related to the universal algebraic statistics of Poincaré …
Within the framework of restricted four-body problem, we study the motion of an infinitesimal mass by assuming that the primaries of the system are radiating-oblate spheroids surrounded by a circular cluster of material points. In our model, we assume that the two masses of the primaries $m_2$ and $m_3$ are equal to $μ$ and the mass $m_1$ is $1-2μ$. By using numerical approach, we have obtained the equilibrium points and examined their linear stability. The effect of potential created by the circular cluster and oblateness coefficients for the more massive primary and the less massive primary,…
The present paper deals with the periodic orbits generated by Lagrangian solutions of the restricted three-body problem when both the primaries are oblate bodies. We have illustrated the periodic orbits for different values of $μ, h,σ_1$ and $σ_2$ ($h$ is energy constant, $μ$ mass ratio of the two primaries, $σ_1$ and $σ_2$ are oblateness factors). These orbits have been determined by giving displacements along the tangent and normal to the mobile coordinates as defined by Karimov and Sokolsky \cite{Kari}. We have applied the predictor-corrector algorithm to construct the periodic orbits in an…
In this paper, we determine the effect of radiation pressure, Poynting-Robertson drag and solar wind drag on the Sun-(Earth-Moon) restricted three body problem. Here, we take the larger body of the Sun as a larger primary, and Earth+Moon as a smaller primary. With the help of the perturbation technique, we find the Lagrangian points, and see that the collinear points deviate from the axis joining the primaries, whereas the triangular points remain unchanged in their configuration. We also find that Lagrangian points move towards the Sun when radiation pressure increases. We have also analysed …
In this paper, the near-optimal capture problem is numerically investigated to locate the optimal capture points around Charon using the Pluto-Charon planar circular restricted three-body problem (PCRTBP). Capture orbits are divided into the pre- and post-maneuver portions. In the pre-maneuver portion, the gravitational capture conditions are discussed by backward numerical integration. In the post-maneuver portion, the smaller alignment index (SALI) is applied to numerically investigate the orbital characters of long-term capture orbits around Charon. The initial conditions corresponding to t…
Given the interest in future space missions devoted to the exploration of key moons in the solar system and that may involve libration point orbits, an efficient design strategy for transfers between moons is introduced that leverages the dynamics in these multi-body systems. The moon-to-moon analytical transfer (MMAT) method is introduced, comprised of a general methodology for transfer design between the vicinities of the moons in any given system within the context of the circular restricted three-body problem, useful regardless of the orbital planes in which the moons reside. A simplified …
We analyze in this paper the existence of the "out-of-plane" equilibrium points in the restricted three-body problem with oblateness. From the series expansion of the potential function of an oblate asteroid, we show analytically all equilibrium points locate on the orbital plane of primaries and how artificial equilibrium points may arise due to an inappropriate application of the potential function. Using the closed form of the potential of a triaxial ellipsoid, we analytically demonstrate that the gravitational acceleration in $z$-direction is always pointing toward the equatorial plane, th…
We present a numerical study on the stability of the 1/2, 2/1 and 1/1 retrograde mean motion resonances in the 3-body problem composed of a solar mass star, a Jupiter mass planet and an additional body with zero mass (elliptic restricted 3-body problem) or masses corresponding to either Neptune, Saturn or Jupiter (planetary 3-body problem). For each system we obtain stability maps using the n-body numerical integrator REBOUND and computing the chaos indicator mean exponential growth factor of nearby orbits (MEGNO). We show that families of periodic orbits exist in all configurations and they c…
We present a closed-form normalization method suitable for the study of the secular dynamics of small bodies inside the trajectory of Jupiter. The method is based on a convenient use of a book-keeping parameter introduced not only in the Lie series organization but also in the Poisson bracket structure employed in all perturbative steps. In particular, we show how the above scheme leads to a redefinition of the remainder of the normal form at every step of the formal solution of the homological equation. An application is given for the semi-analytical representation of the orbits of main-belt …
We present a global analysis of the center manifold of the collinear points in the circular restricted three-body problem. The phase-space structure is provided by a family of resonant 2-DOF Hamiltonian normal forms. The near 1:1 commensurability leads to the construction of a detuned Birkhoff-Gustavson normal form. The bifurcation sequences of the main orbit families are investigated by a geometric theory based on the reduction of the symmetries of the normal form, invariant under spatial mirror symmetries and time reversion. This global picture applies to any values of the mass parameter.
We will show that the period $T$ of a closed orbit of the planar circular restricted three-body problem (viewed on rotating coordinates) depends on the region it encloses. Roughly speaking, we show that, $2 T=kπ+\int_Ωg$ where $k$ is an integer, $Ω$ is the region enclosed by the periodic orbit and $g:\mathbb{R}^2\to \mathbb{R}$ is a function that only depends on the constant $C$ known as the Jacobian integral; it does not depend on $Ω$. This theorem has a Keplerian flavor in the sense that it relates the period with the space "swept" by the orbit. As an application, we prove that there is a ne…
In this paper, we present an application of the Shannon entropy in the case of the planar (non-restricted) four-body problem. Specifically, the Kepler-60 extrasolar system is being investigated with a primary interest in the resonant configuration of the planets that exhibit a chain of mean-motion commensurabilities with the ratios 5:4:3. In the dynamical maps provided, the Shannon entropy is utilized to explore the general structure of the phase space, while, based on the time evolution of the entropy, we determine also the extent and rate of the chaotic diffusion as well as the characteristi…
In the present paper, using the first-order approximation of the $n$-body Lagrangian (derived on the basis of the post-Newtonian gravitational theory of Einstein, Infeld, and Hoffman), we explicitly write down the equations of motion for the planar circular restricted three-body problem. Additionally, with some simplified assumptions, we obtain two formulas for estimating the values of the mass/distance and velocity/speed of light ratios appropriate for a given post-Newtonian approximation. We show that the formulas derived in the present study, lead to a good numerical conservation of the Jac…
This contribution investigates the properties of a category of orbits around Enceladus. In a previous investigation, a set of heteroclinic connections were designed between halo orbits around the equilibrium points L1 and L2 of the circular restricted three-body problem with Saturn and Enceladus as primaries. The geometrical characteristics of those trajectories makes them good candidates as science orbits for the extended observation of the surface of Enceladus: they are highly inclined, they approach the moon and they are maneuver-free. However, the low heights above the surface and the stro…
We propose a closed-form normalization method suitable for the study of the secular dynamics of small bodies in heliocentric orbits perturbed by the tidal potential of a planet with orbit external to the orbit of the small body. The method makes no use of relegation, thus, circumventing all convergence issues related to that technique. The method is based on a convenient use of a book-keeping parameter keeping simultaneously track of all the small quantities in the problem. The book-keeping affects both the Lie series and the Poisson structure employed in successive perturbative steps. In part…
We use the Reversibility Error Method and the Fidelity to analyze the global effects of a small perturbation in a non-integrable system. Both methods have already been proposed and used in the literature but the aim of this paper is to compare them in a physically significant example adding some considerations on the equivalence, observed in this case, between round-off and random perturbations. As a paradigmatic example we adopt the restricted planar circular three body problem. The cumulative effect of random perturbations or round-off leads to a divergence of the perturbed orbit from the re…
In recent years, stable and unstable manifolds of invariant objects (such as libration points and periodic orbits) have been increasingly recognized as an efficient tool for designing transfer trajectories in space missions. However, most methods currently used in mission design rely on using eigenvectors of the linearized dynamics as local approximations of the manifolds. Since such approximations are not accurate except very close to the base invariant object, this requires large amounts of numerical integration to globalize the manifolds and locate intersections. In this paper, we study hyp…
In the last decades a peculiar family of solutions of the Circular Restricted Three Body Problem has been used to explain the temporary captures of small bodies and spacecrafts by a planet of the Solar System. These solutions, which transit close to the Lagrangian points $L_1,L_2$ of the CRTBP, have been classified using the values of approximate local integrals and of the Jacobi constant. The use for small bodies of the Solar System requires to consider a hierarchical extension of the model, from the CRTBP to the the full $N$ planetary problem. The Elliptic Restricted Three Body, which is the…
