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Numerical Simulations of Planetary Systems of the Jupiter-Saturn Type

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 August 2017

R.A. Broucke*
Affiliation:
Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, University of Texas at Austin, USA

Abstract

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We made a numerical study of the General Three-Body Problem in two dimensions, with the intention to obtain some statistical estimates of the outcome of the system after a long time. Two different sets of masses were used. In the first series of experiments we use masses in the ratio of 0.95, 0.04 and 0.01. In the second series, we use masses that are exactly in the Sun-Jupiter-Saturn ratio. To facilitate the discussion, we use the names Sun, Jupiter and Saturn for the three masses, in both cases. In all our experiments, the orbit of Jupiter starts with zero eccentricity and with a unit radius. However, the orbit of Saturn varies in two ways: the initial value of the semi-major axis varies from 1.1 to 3.5 and the eccentricity from 0.0 to 0.75. In total about 4000 cases were run for the two series of masses. All the numerical integrations were done with the method of recurrent power series of order 14, in a heliocentric frame of reference, integrating thus eight simultaneous first-order differential equations. All integrations were performed for a maximum of 12,500 canonical units of time, corresponding to about 2000 revolutions of Jupiter. The cause of termination or type of catastrophe for the system has been determined in all cases. In most cases, this is a close approach of Saturn with Jupiter, followed by ejection of Saturn from the system.

Type
Part I - The Planetary System
Copyright
Copyright © Kluwer 1992 

References

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