EQUILIBRIUM POINTS AND THEIR STABILITY IN THE RESTRICTED FOUR-BODY PROBLEM

Abstract

We study numerically the problem of four bodies, three of which are finite, moving in circles around their center of mass fixed at the origin of the coordinate system, according to the solution of Lagrange where they are always at the vertices of an equilateral triangle, while the fourth is infinitesimal. The fourth body does not affect the motion of the three bodies (primaries). The allowed regions of motion as determined by the zero-velocity surface and corresponding equipotential curves as well as the positions of the equilibrium points are given. The existence and the number of collinear and noncollinear equilibrium points of the problem depend on the mass parameters of the primaries. For three unequal masses, collinear equilibrium solutions do not exist. Critical masses associated with the existence and the number of equilibrium points, are given. The stability of the relative equilibrium solutions in all cases is also studied. The regions of the basins of attraction for the equilibrium points of the present dynamical model for some values of the mass parameters are illustrated.