Minimal velocity surface in the restricted circular Three-Body-Problem

Abstract

In the framework of the restricted circular Three-Body-Problem, the concept of the minimum velocity surface S is introduced, which is a modification of the zero-velocity surface (Hill surface). The existence of Hill surface requires occurrence of the Jacobi integral. The minimum velocity surface, other than the Jacobi integral, requires conservation of the sector velocity of a zero-mass body in the projection on the plane of the main bodies motion. In other words, there must exist one of the three angular momentum integrals. It is shown that this integral exists for a dynamic system obtained after a single averaging of the original system by longitude of the main bodies. Properties of S are investigated. Here is the most significant. The set of possible motions of the zero-mass body bounded by the surface S is compact. As an example the surfaces S for four small moons of Pluto are considered in the framework of the averaged problem Pluto — Charon — small satellite. In all four cases, S represents a topological torus with small cross section, having a circumference in the plane of motion of the main bodies as the center line.