Numerical experiments of the planar equal-mass three-body problem: The effects of rotation

Abstract

The planar three-body problem with angular momentum is numerically and systematically studied as a generalization of the free-fall problem (i.e., the three-body problem with zero initial velocities). The initial conditions in the configuration space exhaust all possible forms of a triangle, whereas the initial conditions in the momentum space are chosen so that position vectors and momentum vectors are orthogonal. Numerical results are organized according to the value of virial ratio k defined as the ratio of the total kinetic energy to the total potential energy. Final motions are mapped in the initial value space. Several interesting features are found. Among others, binary collision curves seem to spiral into the Lagrange point, and for large k, binary collision curves connect the Lagrange point and the Euler point. The existence of a lunar periodic orbit and a periodic orbit of petal-type is suggested. The number of escape orbits as a function of the escape time is analyzed for different k. The behavior of this number for different time and k shows most remarkably the effects of rotation of triple systems. The number of escape orbits increases exponentially for k<or=0.1, the number seems to saturate for k=0.3-0.5, and most of the escape orbits escape quickly for k=0.9. The area of chaotic motion is small for k=0.9.