A study of the equilibrium dynamics of the test particle in the collinear circular restricted four-body problem with non-spherical central primary

Abstract

We consider the collinear restricted four-body problem (CR4BP), where the test particle of infinitesimal mass is moving under the gravitational influence of the three primary bodies. It is further assumed that the central primary is a non-spherical body, particularly either an oblate or prolate spheroid, whereas the peripheral primaries are spherical in shape. A numerical analysis is presented to unveil the effect of the oblateness and prolateness parameters on the position of equilibrium points (EPs) and their linear stability in the CR4BP. Moreover, the permissible regions of possible motion as determined by the zero-velocity surface and associated equipotential curves and the basins of convergence linked with the EPs on the orbital plane are presented. The existence and number of collinear EPs and non-collinear EPs in the problem depend on the combination of the mass parameter of the primaries and the oblateness/prolateness parameter. Additionally, the application of the problem in the Saturn-Moon(1)-Moon(2)-System has been presented.