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Free-fall F15

(1, 0.1, 0.01)

From Li & Liao (2019)

Free-fall F15 (1, 0.1, 0.01) is a periodic orbit of the planar three-body problem: three masses in the ratio 1 : 0.1 : 0.01 that return to their starting positions and velocities every 11.83 time units, published by Li & Liao (2019). Three bodies released from rest fall together, swing past each other and return to rest exactly where they started. It is unstable (largest Floquet multiplier 3481), so a small nudge makes it unravel over a few periods. The bodies pass within 0.00000122 of each other at a top speed of 1222, line up 22 times a period, and the computed loop closes to 2.1×10⁻²².

Measured over one period

Period: 11.83039579
Masses: 1 : 0.1 : 0.01
Energy: -0.113951
Angular momentum: 0
Closest approach: 1.2×10⁻⁶
Top speed: 1222
Path length: 23.028
Alignments per period: 22
Topology: 0 (free-group class)
Stability: unstable (|λ|max 3481)
Loop closure: 2.1×10⁻²²

Neighbours on the map

All Free-fall orbits, the families of periodic three-body orbits, or the atlas map.