Dynamics starting from zero velocities in the classical Coulomb three-body problem.
A qualitative geometrical analysis of the classical Coulomb three-body problem is developed. Three ions and atom are investigated: namely, H-, He, and Li+. The dynamics of these atom and ions is treated in the approximation that the nucleus has infinite mass. Geometrical structures of the dynamics starting from the initial conditions with zero velocities are elucidated. In particular, the distribution of the final states in the initial condition space, its fractal structure, and binary collision orbits are specified. As a result, it is found that binary collision orbits form a lobelike structure. It is shown that the lobelike structure is, in fact, fractal. The lobelike structure is continuously connected to the collinear eZe configuration space, in which a well-known binary symbolic dynamics exists. With these observations, it is expected that as well as triple-collision orbits, binary-collision orbits also serve us some clue to find a symbolic dynamics for the full dynamics with zero angular momentum.
Sano
Mitsusada M
MM
Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan.