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arXiv · 0808.3993

On the Stability of Electrostatic Orbits

Shubho Banerjee·Bradford Taylor·Anand Banerjee
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Abstract

We analyze the stability of two charged conducting spheres orbiting each other. Due to charge polarization, the electrostatic force between the two spheres deviates significantly from $1/r^2$ as they come close to each other. As a consequence, there exists a critical angular momentum, $L_c$, with a corresponding critical radius $r_c$. For $L > L_c$ two circular orbits are possible: one at $r > r_c$ that is stable and the other at $r < r_c$ that is unstable. This critical behavior is analyzed as a function of the charge and the size ratios of the two spheres.

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Shubho Banerjee, Bradford Taylor, Anand Banerjee. 2009-06-30. On the Stability of Electrostatic Orbits. https://doi.org/10.1119/1.3100774

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