arXiv subjects

Rita Mastroianni

Publications and source records attributed to Rita Mastroianni.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Perturbed isotropic oscillators with inversion symmetry

We consider the normal form of a 1:1 detuned resonance that can be related, via a double averaging process, to the three body problem of celestial mechanics. In view of the symmetry in the gravitational coupling between the planets, the obtained normal form exhibits inversion symmetry. We provide an analytical prediction of the possible bifurcations in terms of the detunings and the other physical parameters of the system. We show that the bifurcation scenario is rich. It includes bifurcation sequences where the unstable orbit appearing after a saddle-node bifurcation can have a reversed pitchfork bifurcation, where it turns into stability with the birth of two unstable orbits, which eventually reconnect with one of the two quasi-normal modes. Furthermore, another scenario shows a standard pitchfork in which one of the quasi-normal modes becomes unstable, giving rise to a pair of stable periodic orbits. By introducing coupling and asymmetry parameters, we provide an effective way to discern all the possible sequences of bifurcations.

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arXiv2025

Bifurcation sequences in the secular 3D planetary 3-Body problem: a geometric approach

We implement the geometric method proposed in ([9], [3], [16]) to analytically predict the sequence of bifurcations leading to a change of stability and/or the appearance of new periodic orbits in the secular 3D planetary three body problem. Stemming from the analysis in [17], we examine various normal form models as regards the extent to which they lead to a phase space dynamics qualitatively similar as that in the complete system. For fixed total angular momentum, the phase space in Hopf variables is the 3D sphere, and the complete sequence of bifurcations of new periodic orbits can be recovered through formulas yielding the tangencies or degenerate intersections between the sphere and the surfaces of a constant second integral of motion of the normal form flow. In particular, we find the critical values of the second integral giving rise to pitchfork and saddle-node bifurcations of new periodic orbits in the system. This analysis renders possible to predict the most important structural changes in the phase space, as well as the emergence of new possible stable periodic planetary orbital configurations which can take place as the mutual inclination between the two planets is allowed to increase.

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arXiv2025

Fully analytical propagator for lunar satellite orbits in closed form

We present a fully analytical propagator for the orbits of lunar artificial satellites in a lunar gravity and third-body model sufficiently precise for a wide range of practical applications. The gravity model includes the twelve most important lunar gravity harmonics as well as the Earth's quadrupole tidal terms with a precise representation of the Earth's lunicentric ephemeris, and it gives an accuracy comparable to the way more extended semi-analytical propagator SELENA [6] for satellite orbits at altitudes from 300 to 3000 km. Extra terms of a more complete gravity model are straightforward to include using the formulas of the presently discussed analytical theory. The theory is based on deriving an approximate analytical solution of the secular part of the equations of motion using a Hamiltonian normal form in closed form. In total, we have two types of element transformations: from osculating to mean elements (as in [6]), and from mean to proper elements. The solution of the problem in proper elements is trivial, and, through the inverses of the above transformations, it allows to recover the position and velocity of a satellite analytically at any time t given initial conditions of the osculating elements at time $t_0$ without any intermediate numerical propagation. The propagator model is valid in time spans of several decades, and for every initial condition leading to no-fall on the Moon's surface, except for identified thin zones around a set of secular resonances corresponding to commensurabilities between the satellite's secular frequencies and the secular frequencies of the lunicentric Earth's orbit. Open software python and symbolic routines implementing our propagator are provided in the repository [14]. Precision tests with respect to fully numerical orbital propagation in Cartesian coordinates are reported.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2024

Certifying Guidance & Control Networks: Uncertainty Propagation to an Event Manifold

We perform uncertainty propagation on an event manifold for Guidance & Control Networks (G&CNETs), aiming to enhance the certification tools for neural networks in this field. This work utilizes three previously solved optimal control problems with varying levels of dynamics nonlinearity and event manifold complexity. The G&CNETs are trained to represent the optimal control policies of a time-optimal interplanetary transfer, a mass-optimal landing on an asteroid and energy-optimal drone racing, respectively. For each of these problems, we describe analytically the terminal conditions on an event manifold with respect to initial state uncertainties. Crucially, this expansion does not depend on time but solely on the initial conditions of the system, thereby making it possible to study the robustness of the G&CNET at any specific stage of a mission defined by the event manifold. Once this analytical expression is found, we provide confidence bounds by applying the Cauchy-Hadamard theorem and perform uncertainty propagation using moment generating functions. While Monte Carlo-based (MC) methods can yield the results we present, this work is driven by the recognition that MC simulations alone may be insufficient for future certification of neural networks in guidance and control applications.

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arXiv2023

Computer-assisted proofs of existence of KAM tori in planetary dynamical models of $\upsilon$-And $\mathbf{b}$

We reconsider the problem of the orbital dynamics of the innermost exoplanet of the $\upsilon$-Andromedae system (i.e., $\upsilon$-And $\mathbf{b}$) into the framework of a Secular Quasi-Periodic Restricted Hamiltonian model. This means that we preassign the orbits of the planets that are expected to be the biggest ones in that extrasolar system (namely, $\upsilon$-And $\mathbf{c}$ and $\upsilon$-And $\mathbf{d}$). The Fourier decompositions of their secular motions are injected in the equations describing the orbital dynamics of $\upsilon$-And $\mathbf{b}$ under the gravitational effects exerted by those two exoplanets. By a computer-assisted procedure, we prove the existence of KAM tori corresponding to orbital motions that we consider to be very robust configurations, according to the analysis and the numerical explorations made in our previous article. The computer-assisted assisted proofs are successfully performed for two variants of the Secular Quasi-Periodic Restricted Hamiltonian model, which differs for what concerns the effects of the relativistic corrections on the orbital motion of $\upsilon$-And $\mathbf{b}$, depending on whether they are considered or not.

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arXiv2023

Secular orbital dynamics of the innermost exoplanet of the $\upsilon$-Andromedæ system

We introduce a quasi-periodic restricted Hamiltonian to describe the secular motion of a small-mass planet in a multi-planetary system. In particular, we refer to the motion of $\upsilon$-And $b$ which is the innermost planet among those discovered in the extrasolar system orbiting around the $\upsilon$-Andromedae A star. We preassign the orbits of the Super-Jupiter exoplanets $\upsilon$-And $c$ and $\upsilon$-And $d$ in a stable configuration. The Fourier decompositions of their secular motions are reconstructed by using the Frequency Analysis and are injected in the equations describing the orbital dynamics of $\upsilon$-And $b$ under the gravitational effects exerted by those two external exoplanets (expected to be major ones in such an extrasolar system). We end up with a $2+3/2$ degrees of freedom Hamiltonian model; its validity is confirmed by the comparison with several numerical integrations of the complete $4$-body problem. Furthermore, the model is enriched by taking into account also the relativistic effects on the secular motion of the innermost exoplanet. We focus on the problem of the stability of $\upsilon$-And $b$ as a function of the parameters that mostly impact on its orbit, i.e. the initial values of its inclination and the longitude of its node. We study the evolution of its eccentricity, crucial to exclude orbital configurations with high probability of (quasi)collision with the central star in the long-time evolution of the system. Moreover, we also introduce a normal form approach, that further reduces our Hamiltonian model to a system with $2$ degrees of freedom, which is integrable because it admits a constant of motion related to the total angular momentum. This allows us to quickly preselect the domains of stability for $\upsilon$-And $b$, with respect to the set of the initial orbital configurations that are compatible with the observations.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2022

The phase-space architecture in extrasolar systems with two planets in orbits of high mutual inclination

We revisit the secular 3D planetary three-body problem aiming to provide a unified formalism for studying the structure of the phase space for progressively higher values of the mutual inclination $i_{mut}$ between the two planets' orbits. We propose a `book-keeping' technique yielding (after Jacobi reduction) a clear decomposition of the secular Hamiltonian as $H_{sec}=H_{planar} +H_{space}$, where $H_{space}$ contains all terms depending on $i_{mut}$. We numerically compare several models obtained via expansion in the orbital eccentricities or via multipole expansion. We find the mimimum required truncation orders to accurately represent the dynamics. We explore the transition, as $i_{mut}$ increases, from a `planar-like' to a `Lidov-Kozai' regime. Using a typical (non-hierarchical) example, we show how the structure of the phase portraits of the integrable secular dynamics of the planar case is reproduced to a large extent also in the 3D case. We estimate semi-analytically the level of $i_{mut}$ up to which the dynamics remains nearly-integrable. In this regime, we propose a normal form method by which the basic periodic orbits of the nearly-integrable regime (apsidal corotation resonances) can be computed semi-analytically. On the other hand, as the energy increases the system gradually moves to the `Lidov-Kozai' regime. The latter is dominated by two different families of inclined periodic orbits ($C_1$ and $C_2$), of which $C_2$ becomes unstable via the usual Lidov-Kozai mechanism. We discuss the connection between the above families of periodic orbits. Finally, we study numerically the form of the phase portraits for different mass and semi-major axis ratios of the two planets, aiming to establish how generic are the phenomena reported above as the systems parameters are chosen close to one or more hierarchical limits.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2022

Kolmogorov algorithm for isochronous Hamiltonian systems

We present a Kolmogorov-like algorithm for the computation of a normal form in the neighborhood of an invariant torus in `isochronous' Hamiltonian systems, i.e., systems with Hamiltonians of the form $\mathcal{H}=\mathcal{H}_0+\varepsilon \mathcal{H}_1$ where $\mathcal{H}_0$ is the Hamiltonian of $N$ linear oscillators, and $\mathcal{H}_1$ is expandable as a polynomial series in the oscillators' canonical variables. This method can be regarded as a normal form analogue of a corresponding Lindstedt method for coupled oscillators. We comment on the possible use of the Lindstedt method itself under two distinct schemes, i.e., one producing series analogous to those of the Birkhoff normal form scheme, and another, analogous to the Kolomogorov normal form scheme in which we fix in advance the frequency of the torus.

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