Maximum Lyapunov Exponents for Chaotic Rotation of Natural Planetary Satellites

Abstract

Based on the Chirikov approach [1, 2] within the context of the theory of separatrix mappings, we suggest and substantiate a simple method for estimating the maximum Lyapunov characteristic exponent (MLCE) of motion in a chaotic layer in the neighborhood of nonlinear resonance separatrix of a Hamiltonian system under an asymmetric periodic perturbation. For a number of natural planetary satellites, using this method, the estimates are made of the MLCE of chaotic rotation (relative to the center of mass) in the main chaotic layer, i.e., in the chaotic layer in the neighborhood of a synchronous resonance separatrix. The value of the MLCE is determined by an orbital eccentricity and by the parameter of the satellite's dynamic asymmetry. The quantity inverse to the MLCE gives a typical time of predictable rotational motion.