89 research outputs found
Dynamics of two planets in co-orbital motion
We study the stability regions and families of periodic orbits of two planets
locked in a co-orbital configuration. We consider different ratios of planetary
masses and orbital eccentricities, also we assume that both planets share the
same orbital plane. Initially we perform numerical simulations over a grid of
osculating initial conditions to map the regions of stable/chaotic motion and
identify equilibrium solutions. These results are later analyzed in more detail
using a semi-analytical model. Apart from the well known quasi-satellite (QS)
orbits and the classical equilibrium Lagrangian points L4 and L5, we also find
a new regime of asymmetric periodic solutions. For low eccentricities these are
located at , where \sigma is
the difference in mean longitudes and \Delta\omega is the difference in
longitudes of pericenter. The position of these Anti-Lagrangian solutions
changes with the mass ratio and the orbital eccentricities, and are found for
eccentricities as high as ~ 0.7. Finally, we also applied a slow mass variation
to one of the planets, and analyzed its effect on an initially asymmetric
periodic orbit. We found that the resonant solution is preserved as long as the
mass variation is adiabatic, with practically no change in the equilibrium
values of the angles.Comment: 9 pages, 11 figure
Extrasolar Planets in Mean-Motion Resonance: Apses Alignment and Asymmetric Stationary Solutions
In recent years several pairs of extrasolar planets have been discovered in
the vicinity of mean-motion commensurabilities. In some cases, such as the
Gliese 876 system, the planets seem to be trapped in a stationary solution, the
system exhibiting a simultaneous libration of the resonant angle theta_1 = 2
lambda_2 - lambda_1 - varpi_1 and of the relative position of the pericenters.
In this paper we analyze the existence and location of these stable
solutions, for the 2/1 and 3/1 resonances, as function of the masses and
orbital elements of both planets. This is undertaken via an analytical model
for the resonant Hamiltonian function. The results are compared with those of
numerical simulations of the exact equations.
In the 2/1 commensurability, we show the existence of three principal
families of stationary solutions: (i) aligned orbits, in which theta_1 and
varpi_1 - varpi_2 both librate around zero, (ii) anti-aligned orbits, in which
theta_1=0 and the difference in pericenter is 180 degrees, and (iii) asymmetric
stationary solutions, where both the resonant angle and varpi_1 - varpi_2 are
constants with values different of 0 or 180 degrees. Each family exists in a
different domain of values of the mass ratio and eccentricities of both
planets. Similar results are also found in the 3/1 resonance.
We discuss the application of these results to the extrasolar planetary
systems and develop a chart of possible planetary orbits with apsidal
corotation. We estimate, also, the maximum planetary masses in order that the
stationary solutions are dynamically stable.Comment: 25 pages, 10 figures. Submitted to Ap
Scalar field in a minimally coupled brane world: no-hair and other no-go theorems
In the brane-world framework, we consider static, spherically symmetric
configurations of a scalar field with the Lagrangian (\d\phi)^2/2 - V(\phi),
confined on the brane. We use the 4D Einstein equations on the brane obtained
by Shiromizu et al., containing the usual stress tensor T\mN, the tensor
\Pi\mN, quadratic in T\mN, and E\mN describing interaction with the bulk.
For models under study, the tensor \Pi\mN has zero divergence, so we can
consider a "minimally coupled" brane with E\mN = 0, whose 4D gravity is
decoupled from the bulk geometry. Assuming E\mN =0, we try to extend to brane
worlds some theorems valid for scalar fields in general relativity (GR). Thus,
the list of possible global causal structures in all models under consideration
is shown to be the same as is known for vacuum with a term in GR:
Minkowski, Schwarzschild, (A)dS and Schwarzschild-(A)dS. A no-hair theorem,
saying that, given a potential , asymptotically flat black holes
cannot have nontrivial external scalar fields, is proved under certain
restrictions. Some objects, forbidden in GR, are allowed on the brane, e.g,
traversable wormholes supported by a scalar field, but only at the expense of
enormous matter densities in the strong field region.Comment: 8 pages, Latex2e. Numerical estimates and a few references adde
Tidal decay and orbital circularization in close-in two-planet systems
The motion of two planets around a Sun-like star under the combined effects
of mutual interaction and tidal dissipation is investigated. The secular
behaviour of the system is analyzed using two different approaches. First, we
solve the exact equations of motion through the numerical simulation of the
system evolution. In addition to the orbital decay and circularization, we show
that the final configuration of the system is affected by the shrink of the
inner orbit. Our second approach consist in the analysis of the stationary
solutions of mean equations of motion based on a Hamiltonian formalism. We
consider the case of a hot super-Earth planet with a more massive outer
companion. As a real example, the CoRoT-7 system is analyzed solving the exact
and mean equations of motion. The star-planet tidal interaction produces
orbital decay and circularization of the orbit of CoRoT-7b. In addition, the
long-term tidal evolution is such that the eccentricity of CoRoT-7c is also
circularized and a pair of final circular orbits is obtained. A curve in the
space of eccentricities can be constructed through the computation of
stationary solutions of mean equations including dissipation. The application
to CoRoT-7 system shows that the stationary curve agrees with the result of
numerical simulations of exact equations. A similar investigation performed in
a super-Earth-Jupiter two-planet system shows that the doubly circular state is
accelerated when there is a significant orbital migration of the inner planet,
in comparison with previous results were migration is neglected.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS; 10 pages, 13 figure
Modelling resonances and orbital chaos in disk galaxies. Application to a Milky Way spiral model
Context: Resonances in the stellar orbital motion under perturbations from
spiral arms structure play an important role in the evolution of the disks of
spiral galaxies. The epicyclic approximation allows the determination of the
corresponding resonant radii on the equatorial plane (for nearly circular
orbits), but is not suitable in general.
Aims: We expand the study of resonant orbits by analysing stellar motions
perturbed by spiral arms with Gaussian-shaped profiles without any restriction
on the stellar orbital configurations, and we expand the concept of Lindblad
(epicyclic) resonances for orbits with large radial excursions.
Methods: We define a representative plane of initial conditions, which covers
the whole phase space of the system. Dynamical maps on representative planes
are constructed numerically, in order to characterize the phase-space structure
and identify the precise location of resonances. The study is complemented by
the construction of dynamical power spectra, which provide the identification
of fundamental oscillatory patterns in the stellar motion.
Results: Our approach allows a precise description of the resonance chains in
the whole phase space, giving a broader view of the dynamics of the system when
compared to the classical epicyclic approach, even for objects in retrograde
motion. The analysis of the solar neighbourhood shows that, depending on the
current azimuthal phase of the Sun with respect to the spiral arms, a star with
solar kinematic parameters may evolve either inside the stable co-rotation
resonance or in a chaotic zone.
Conclusions: Our approach contributes to quantifying the domains of resonant
orbits and the degree of chaos in the whole Galactic phase-space structure. It
may serve as a starting point to apply these techniques to the investigation of
clumps in the distribution of stars in the Galaxy, such as kinematic moving
groups.Comment: 17 pages, 15 figures. Matches accepted version in A&
A new analysis of the GJ581 extrasolar planetary system
We have done a new analysis of the available observations for the GJ581
exoplanetary system. Today this system is controversial due to choices that can
be done in the orbital determination. The main ones are the ocurrence of
aliases and the additional bodies - the planets f and g - announced in Vogt et
al. 2010. Any dynamical study of exoplanets requires the good knowledge of the
orbital elements and the investigations involving the planet g are particularly
interesting, since this body would lie in the Habitable Zone (HZ) of the star
GJ581. This region,for this system, is very attractive of the dynamical point
of view due to several resonances of two and three bodies present there. In
this work, we investigate the conditions under which the planet g may exist. We
stress the fact that the planet g is intimately related with the orbital
elements of the planet d; more precisely, we conclude that it is not possible
to disconnect its existence from the determination of the eccentricity of the
planet d. Concerning the planet f, we have found one solution with period
days, but we are judicious about any affirmation concernig this
body because its signal is in the threshold of detection and the high period is
in a spectral region where the ocorruence of aliases is very common. Besides,
we outline some dynamical features of the habitable zone with the dynamical map
and point out the role played by some resonances laying there.Comment: 12 pages, 9 figure
Evolution of Migrating Planet Pairs in Resonance
In this paper we present numerical simulations of the evolution of planets or massive satellites captured in the 2/1 and 3/1 resonances, under the action of an anti-dissipative tidal force. The evolution of resonant trapped bodies show a richness of solutions: librations around stationary symmetric solutions with aligned periapses (w1-w2=0) or anti-aligned periapses (w1-w2=180 deg), and librations around stationary solutions in which the periapses configuration is fixed, but with w1-w2 taking values in a wide range of angles. Many of these solutions exist for large values of the eccentricities and, during the semimajor axis drift, the solutions show turnabouts from one configuration to another. These results are valid for other non-conservative forces leading to adiabatic covergent migration and capture into one of these resonances
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