Stability of higher order resonances in the restricted three-body problem

Abstract

Third and fourth order mean motion resonances are studied in the model of the restricted three-body problem by numerical methods for mass parameters corresponding approximately to the Sun–Jupiter and Sun–Neptune systems. In the case of inner resonances, it is shown that there are two regions of libration in the 8:5 and 7:4 resonances, one at low, the other at high eccentricities. In the 9:5 and 7:3 resonances libration can exist only in one region at high eccentricities. The 5:2 and 4:1 resonances are very regular, with one librational zone existing for all eccentricities. There is no visible region of libration at any eccentricities in the 5:1 resonance, the transition between the regions of direct and retrograde circulation is very sharp. In the case of outer resonances, the 8:5 and 7:4 resonances have also two regions of libration, but the 9:5 resonance has three, the 7:3 resonance two librational zones. The 5:2 resonance is again very regular, but it is parted for two regions of libration at high eccentricities. Libration is possible in the 4:1 resonance only at high eccentricities. The 5:1 resonance is very symmetric. In the case of outer resonances, a comparison is made with trans-Neptunian objects (TNO) in higher order mean motion resonances. Several new librating TNOs are identified.