On the relationship between instability and Lyapunov times for the 3-body problem

TL;DR

This paper investigates the connection between survival time and Lyapunov time in the 3-body problem, revealing a two-part power law relationship and deriving a new analytical functional relationship using Poincare maps.

Contribution

It introduces an analytical method to relate Lyapunov and survival times in the 3-body problem, extending previous numerical findings to the Sitnikov problem.

Findings

Demonstrates a two-part power law relationship in the Sitnikov problem

Derives a new analytical functional relationship between times

Shows similar probability distributions for Lyapunov times in both problems

Abstract

In this study we consider the relationship between the survival time and the Lyapunov time for 3-body systems. It is shown that the Sitnikov problem exhibits a two-part power law relationship as demonstrated previously for the general 3-body problem. Using an approximate Poincare map on an appropriate surface of section, we delineate escape regions in a domain of initial conditions and use these regions to analytically obtain a new functional relationship between the Lyapunov time and the survival time for the 3-body problem. The marginal probability distributions of the Lyapunov and survival times are discussed and we show that the probability density function of Lyapunov times for the Sitnikov problem is similar to that for the general 3-body problem.