A first integral of motion for logarithmic spiral trajectories

Authors

  • Jeric Vuelta Garrido ⋅ PH National Institute of Physics, University of the Philippines Diliman
  • Jose Perico Henson Esguerra ⋅ PH National Institute of Physics, University of the Philippines Diliman

Abstract

A first integral of motion similar to the Laplace-Runge-Lenz vector is obtained for logarithmic spirals trajectories (LST). The LST is a special solution to the equation of motion of a planar solar sail, where the radial and tangential velocities of the spacecraft are related by a constant. By removing extraneous solutions in the resulting orbit equation, we obtained the requirement that the integral of motion must be identically zero for an LST orbit to exist. Minimum-travel time logarithmic spiral trajectories have been obtained, consistent with what was obtained in the literature.

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Article ID

SPP-2019-1D-06

Section

Theoretical and Mathematical Physics

Published

2019-05-23

How to Cite

[1]
JV Garrido and JPH Esguerra, A first integral of motion for logarithmic spiral trajectories, Proceedings of the Samahang Pisika ng Pilipinas 37, SPP-2019-1D-06 (2019). URL: https://proceedings.spp-online.org/article/view/SPP-2019-1D-06.