The separatrix algorithmic map: Application to the spin-orbit motion (Q1976098)

The author considers the planar rotational motion of a non-symmetric satellite in an elliptic orbit. He constructs a two-dimensional map describing the motion in a vicinity of the separatrix of synchronous spin-orbit resonance. This map is a generalization of Chirikov's separatrix map, in the sense that the perturbation symmetry is taken into account. Phase portraits of the generalized map perfectly reproduce well-known examples of section surfaces in the phase space of spin-orbit coupling for non-symmetric natural satellites. Moreover, this map provides a straightforward analytical description of the phase space; the analysis of properties of the map allows one to precalculate (by means of compact analytical relations) the locations of resonances and chaos boundaries, the emergence of marginal resonances, and to describe the bifurcation of synchronous resonance's center, even though far from the separatrix.