The spatial Hill four-body problem I—An exploration of basic invariant sets

Abstract

In this work we perform a first study of basic invariant sets of the spatial Hill’s four-body problem, where we have used both analytical and numerical approaches. This system depends on a mass parameter μ in such a way that the classical Hill’s problem is recovered when μ=0. Regarding the numerical work, we perform a numerical continuation, for the Jacobi constant C and several values of the mass parameter μ by applying a classical predictor–corrector method, together with a high-order Taylor method considering variable step and order and automatic differentiation techniques, to specific boundary value problems related with the reversing symmetries of the system. The solution of these boundary value problems defines initial conditions of symmetric periodic orbits. Some of the results were obtained departing from periodic orbits within Hill’s three-body problem. The numerical explorations reveal that a second distant disturbing body has a relevant effect on the stability of the orbits and bifurcations among these families. We have also found some new families of periodic orbits that do not exist in the classical Hill’s three-body problem; these families have some desirable properties from a practical point of view.