Exchange orbits: a possible application to extrasolar planetary systems
- Author(s)
- Barbara Funk, Richard Schwarz, Rudolf Dvorak, M. Roth
- Abstract
Among the 48 known multiplanetary systems, some are in mean-motion resonances (in most cases in the 2:1 mean-motion resonance). Although until now no extrasolar planetary systems have been found in a 1:1 mean-motion resonance, many studies are dealing with this configuration. Besides the well-known motion of the Trojan asteroids, further possibilities exist for stable configurations of planets or satellites in a 1:1 resonance. For one thing, we can find so-called exchange orbits in our Solar system (Janus and Epimetheus), where both Saturnian moons exchange the values of their semi-major axes (exchange-a configuration) when approaching each other. In addition, we can also find similar behaviour for two planets on orbits with the same semi-major axis, but with different eccentricities; here an exchange of eccentricities takes place (exchange-e configuration). In this work we focused on the second possibility and performed a parameter study by varying the initial conditions (mass and eccentricity) of two planets on exchange-e orbits. By means of an extensive numerical study, we can find a wide variety of initial conditions leading to long-term stable orbits.
- Organisation(s)
- Department of Astrophysics
- Journal
- Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
- Volume
- 410
- Pages
- 455-460
- No. of pages
- 6
- ISSN
- 0035-8711
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2966.2010.17453.x
- Publication date
- 2011
- Peer reviewed
- Yes
- Austrian Fields of Science 2012
- 103003 Astronomy
- Portal url
- https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/e5514fc2-19ed-4687-9996-e027682f946e