On the stability of hierarchical four-body systems

Abstract

Generalized Jacobian coordinates can be used to decompose anN-body dynamical system intoN-1 2-body systems coupled by perturbations. Hierarchical stability is defined as the property of preserving the hierarchical arrangement of these 2-body subsystems in such a way that orbit crossing is avoided. ForN=3 hierarchical stability can be ensured for an arbitrary span of time depending on the integralz=c 2 h (angular momentum squared times energy): if it is smaller than a critical value, defined by theL 2 collinear equilibrium configuration, then the three possible hierarchical arrangements correspond to three disconnected subsets of the invariant manifold in the phase space (and in the configuration space as well; see Milani and Nobili, 1983a). The same definitions can be extended, with the Jacobian formalism, to an arbitrary hierarchical arrangement ofN≥4 bodies, and the main confinement condition, the Easton inequality, can also be extended but it no longer provides separate regions of trapped motion, whatever is the value ofz for the wholeN-body system,N≥4. However, thez criterion of hierarchical stability applies to every 3-body subsystem, whosez ‘integral’ will of course vary in time because of the perturbations from the other bodies. In theN=4 case we decompose the system into two 3-body subsystems whosec 2 h ‘integrals’,z 23 andz 34, att=0 are assumed to be smaller than the corresponding critical values $$\tilde z_{23} $$ and $$\tilde z_{34} $$ , so that both the subsystems are initially hierarchically stable. Then the hierarchical arrangement of the 4 bodies cannot be broken until eitherz 23 orz 34 is changed by an amount $$\tilde z_{ij} - z_{ij} \left( 0 \right)$$ ; that is the whole system is hierarchically stable for a time spain not shorter than the minimum between $$\Delta t_{23} = {{\left( {\tilde z_{23} - z_{23} \left( 0 \right)} \right)} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{\left( {\tilde z_{23} - z_{23} \left( 0 \right)} \right)} {\dot z_{23} }}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {\dot z_{23} }}$$ and $$\Delta t_{34} = {{\left( {\tilde z_{34} - z_{34} \left( 0 \right)} \right)} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{\left( {\tilde z_{34} - z_{34} \left( 0 \right)} \right)} {\dot z_{34} }}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {\dot z_{34} }}$$ . To estimate how long is this stability time, two main steps are required. First the perturbing potentials have to be developed in series; the relevant small parameters are some combinations of mass ratios and length ratios, theɛ ij of Roy and Walker. When an appropriate perturbation theory is based on theɛ ij , the asymptotic expansions are much more rapidly decreasing than the usual expansions in powers of the mass ratios (as in the classical Lagrange perturbation theory) and can be extended also to cases such as lunar theory or double binaries. The second step is the computation of the time derivatives $$\dot z_{ij} $$ (we limit ourselves to the planar case). To assess the long term behaviour of the system, we can neglect the short-periodic perturbations and discuss only the long-periodic and the secular perturbations. By using a Poisson bracket formalism, a generalization of Lagrange theorem for semimajor axes and a generalization of the classical first order theories for eccentricities and pericenters, we prove that thez ij do not undergo any secular perturbation, because of the interaction with the other subsystem, at the first order in theɛ ik . After the long-periodic perturbations have been accounted for, and apart from the small divisors problems that could arise both from ordinary and secular resonances, only the second order terms have to be considered in the computation of Δt 23, Δt 34. A full second order perturbative theory is beyond the scope of this paper; however an order-of-magnitude lower estimate of the Δt ij can be obtained with the very pessimistic assumption that essentially all the second order terms affect in a secular way thez ij . The same method could be applied also toN≥5 body systems. Since almost everyN-body system existing in nature is strongly hierarchical, the product of twoɛ ij is very small for almost all the real astronomical problems. As an example, the hierarchical stability of the 4-body system Sun, Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter is investigated; this system turns out to be stable for at least 110 million years. Although this hierarchical stability time is ∼10 times less than the real age of the Solar System, taking into account that many pessimistic assumptions have been done we can conclude that the stability of the Solar System is no more a forbidden problem for Celestial Mechanics.