Stability Set

Author: CislunarSpace

Website: https://cislunarspace.cn

Definition

The stability set is a concept introduced by García and Gómez to describe motion stability regions near the smaller primary body in a three-body system. Research shows these regions are not closed domains centered on the body; instead, stable and unstable regions alternate as the initial radius increases. The stability set consists of multiple disconnected closed regions that may not contain the primary body. This concept represents an extension and refinement of the weak stability boundary theory, providing a more detailed characterization of the transition from stable to unstable orbits.

Key Properties

  • Stability and instability alternate as the initial distance from the smaller primary increases.
  • The stability set consists of multiple disconnected closed regions in phase space.
  • Some regions may not contain the primary body itself, unlike intuitive expectations.
  • Provides a finer-grained stability characterization than the weak stability boundary concept.

References

  • García, F. and Gómez, G. "A Note on Weak Stability Boundaries." Celestial Mechanics and Dynamical Astronomy, 97:87–100, 2007.