Hamiltonian stability of spin-orbit resonances in celestial mechanics (Q1593004)

The authors consider an oblate satellite moving in Keplerian orbit around a central planet, and rotating about an internal spin-axis. A spin-orbit resonance of order \(p\:q\) occurs when the ratio between revolutional and rotational periods is rational. The corresponding mathematical model consists of Hamilton's equations associated with the Hamiltonian \(H(y,x,t)=y^{2}/2-\varepsilon f(x,t)\), \(y\in{\mathbf R}\), \(x\in T\equiv{\mathbf R}/2\pi\mathbb{Z}\), \(t\in{\mathbf R}\), the parameter \(\varepsilon\) being proportional to the equatorial oblateness coefficient of the satellite. The function \(f\) is expanded in a truncated Fourier series, and then the stability of a \(p\:q\) periodic orbit is investigated numerically. To this aim, the authors apply a symplectic Euler method. Plotting \(\varepsilon_{\ast}(p/q)\) (the value of perturbing parameter at which the periodic orbit with frequency \(p/q\) becomes instable) versus \(p/q\), the authors observe the expected significant peaks at \(1\:1\) resonance in Moon-Earth system, and at \(3\:2\) resonances in Mercury-Sun system.