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Complex statistics in Hamiltonian barred galaxy models

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Abstract

We use probability density functions (pdfs) of sums of orbit coordinates, over time intervals of the order of one Hubble time, to distinguish weakly from strongly chaotic orbits in a barred galaxy model. We find that, in the weakly chaotic case, quasi-stationary states arise, whose pdfs are well approximated by q-Gaussian functions (with 1 < q < 3), while strong chaos is identified by pdfs which quickly tend to Gaussians (q = 1). Typical examples of weakly chaotic orbits are those that “stick” to islands of ordered motion. Their presence in rotating galaxy models has been investigated thoroughly in recent years due to their ability to support galaxy structures for relatively long time scales. In this paper, we demonstrate, on specific orbits of 2 and 3 degree of freedom barred galaxy models, that the proposed statistical approach can distinguish weakly from strongly chaotic motion accurately and efficiently, especially in cases where Lyapunov exponents and other local dynamic indicators appear to be inconclusive.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mathematics and Center for Research and Applications of Nonlinear Systems (CRANS), University of Patras, 26500, Patras, Rion, Greece

    Tassos Bountis & Thanos Manos

  2. Department of Automation and High Performance Computing Systems, Programming and Algorithms Lab (HPCS Lab), Technological Educational Institute of Messolonghi, 30200, Nea Ktiria, Messolonghi, Greece

    Chris Antonopoulos

Authors
  1. Tassos Bountis
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  2. Thanos Manos
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  3. Chris Antonopoulos
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Correspondence to Thanos Manos.

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Bountis, T., Manos, T. & Antonopoulos, C. Complex statistics in Hamiltonian barred galaxy models. Celest Mech Dyn Astr 113, 63–80 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10569-011-9392-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10569-011-9392-9

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