English

Resonances in non-axisymmetric gravitational potentials

Earth and Planetary Astrophysics 2020-02-19 v1

Abstract

We study sectoral resonances of the form jκ=m(nΩ)j\kappa= m(n-\Omega) around a non-axisymmetric body with spin rate Ω\Omega, where κ\kappa and nn are the epicyclic frequency and mean motion of a particle, respectively, where j>0j>0 and mm (<0<0 or >0>0) are integers, jj being the resonance order. This describes n/Ωm/(mj)n/\Omega \sim m/(m-j) resonances inside and outside the corotation radius,as well as prograde and retrograde resonances. Results are: (1) the kinematics of a periodic orbit depends only on (m,j)(m',j'), the irreducible (relatively prime) version of (m,j)(m,j). In a rotating frame, the periodic orbit has jj' braids, m|m'| identical sectors and m(j1)|m'|(j'-1) self-crossing points; (2) thus, Lindblad resonances (with j=1j=1) are free of self-crossing points; (3) resonances with same jj' and opposite mm' have the same kinematics, and are called twinstwins; (4) the order of a resonance at a given n/Ωn/\Omega depends on the symmetry of the potential. A potential that is invariant under a 2π/k2\pi/k-rotation creates only resonances with mm multiple of kk; (5) resonances with same jj and opposite mm have the same kinematics and same dynamics, and are called true twinstrue~twins; (6) A retrograde resonance (n/Ω<0n/\Omega < 0) is always of higher order than its prograde counterpart (n/Ω>0n/\Omega > 0); (7) the resonance strengths can be calculated in a compact form with the classical operators used in the case of a perturbing satellite. Applications to Chariklo and Haumea are made.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2001.06382,
  title  = {Resonances in non-axisymmetric gravitational potentials},
  author = {Bruno Sicardy},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2001.06382},
  year   = {2020}
}

Comments

20 pages, 2 figures

R2 v1 2026-06-23T13:14:07.753Z