English

Spin-Orbit Synchronization and Singular Perturbation Theory

Earth and Planetary Astrophysics 2024-02-19 v1 Mathematical Physics math.MP

Abstract

In this study, we formulate a set of differential equations for a binary system to describe the secular-tidal evolution of orbital elements, rotational dynamics, and deformation (flattening), under the assumption that one body remains spherical while the other is slightly aspherical throughout the analysis. By applying singular perturbation theory, we analyze the dynamics of both the original and secular equations. Our findings indicate that the secular equations serve as a robust approximation for the entire system, often representing a slow-fast dynamical system. Additionally, we explore the geometric aspects of spin-orbit resonance capture, interpreting it as a manifestation of relaxation oscillations within singularly perturbed systems.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2402.10880,
  title  = {Spin-Orbit Synchronization and Singular Perturbation Theory},
  author = {Clodoaldo Ragazzo and Lucas Ruiz dos Santos},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2402.10880},
  year   = {2024}
}
R2 v1 2026-06-28T14:51:00.157Z