The Nekhoroshev theorem and the asteroid belt dynamical system (Q1364247)

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The Nekhoroshev theorem and the asteroid belt dynamical system
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    The Nekhoroshev theorem and the asteroid belt dynamical system (English)
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    25 August 1997
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    This paper presents some applications of the so-called Nekhoroshev's theorem [\textit{N. N. Nekhoroshev}, Russ. Math. Surveys 32, No. 6, 1-65 (1977; Zbl 0389.70028)] to Hamiltonian problems of celestial mechanics, and particularly to the qualitative dynamical structure of the asteroid belt. As it is known, Nekhoroshev's theorem provides stability results on the \(p\)-variables on time intervals of size \(\exp(1/\varepsilon)\) for analytic Hamiltonian systems of type \(H(p,q)= H_0(p)+\varepsilon H_1(p,q)\), where \(\varepsilon\) is a small parameter and some assumptions are made on the matrix \(C= (\partial^2H/\partial p_i\partial p_j)\). This long-time stability results are enough for many practical problems characterized by a limited lifetime. However, there are many practical problems of celestial mechanics which either do not satisfy the assumptions on \(C\) (they are degenerate) or it is difficult to check whether or not these assumptions are fulfilled. In view of these facts, the authors start the paper with a critical revision of Nekhoroshev's theorem, paying special attention to the role of the assumptions on \(C\). With the help of some figures, they show clearly the different behaviour of resonances of a given order which cross over resonant nodes when they do not overlap or overlap. Moreover, these phenomena are explicitly illustrated by the frequency analysis of the Froeschlé map. In the second part of the paper, the authors fix their attention on the asteroid belt. Here the main point is to show whether (perhaps in some parts of the space) Nekhoroshev's results hold, and therefore long-time stability results can be established. The authors conclude that to obtain these results for this particular problem, it will be necessary to make extensive numerical computations by using some tools like the frequency analysis, the sup-action map or the Lyapunov exponents.
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    long-time stability
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    resonances
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    resonant nodes
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    frequency analysis
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    Froeschlé map
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