Modal decomposition of Hamiltonian variational equations

Over any finite arc of trajectory, the variational equations of a Hamiltonian system can be separated into 'normal' modes. This transformation is canonical, and the Lyapunov exponents over the trajectory arc occur as positive/negative pairs for conjugate modes, while the modal vectors remain unit vectors. This decomposition effectively solves the variational equations for any canonical, linear-dependent system. As an example, we study the Voyager I trajectory. In an interplanetary flyby, some of the modal variables increase by very large multiplicative factors, but this means that their conjugate modal variables decrease by those same very large multiplicative vectors. Maneuver strategies for this case are explored, and the minimum delta upsilon maneuver is found

Canonical Floquet Theory II: Action-Angle Variables Near Conservative Periodic Orbits

Classical Floquet theory describes motion near a periodic orbit. But comparing Floquet theory to action angle methods shows which Jordan form is desirable. A new eigenvector algorithm is developed ensuring a canonical transform and handling the typical for the case of repeated eigenvalues, a chronic problem in conservative Hamiltonian systems. This solution also extends the Floquet decomposition to adjacent trajectories, and is fully canonical. This method yields the matrix of frequency partial derivatives, extending the solution’s validity. Some numerical examples are offered