Abstract
We show that the Kustaanheimo-Stiefel (KS) regularizing transformation for the perturbed Kepler motion is so deeply rooted to the Keplerian orbital elements as to yield the position vector of a particle on the osculating orbit as the effect of a peculiar roto-dilatation in the physical Euclidean space. Adopting the conventional vector formulation, quaternions and spinors are also involved. A key role is played by (i): a simple hodographical approach to the integrals of the Kepler motion (angular momentum vector, Runge-Lenz vector); (ii) a polarized outlook on the attitude frame of the Kepler orbit; (iii) a simple kinematical expression for the orbital elements. The mechanical energy, the bilinear relation, the gauge transformation — fundamental in the KS-theory — are naturally arrived at, acquiring interesting kinematical interpretations.
Sommario
Si mostra come la trasformazione di Kustaanheimo e Stiefel (KS) per regolarizzare il moto kepleriano perturbato sia cosí legata agli elementi orbitali da condurre, tramite una particolare roto-omotetia nello spazio fisico euclideo, al vettore posizione di una particella sull'orbita osculatrice. Avvalendosi del consueto calcolo vettoriale, si introducono solo all'occorrenza quaternioni e spinori. Fondamentali risultano (i): l'introduzione per via odografica degli integrali primi caratteristici del moto kepleriano (momento della quantità di moto, vettore di Runge-Lenz); (ii) l'interpretazione polarizzata della terna di assi che dà la posizione dell'orbita nello spazio; (iii) le semplici espressioni cinematiche degli elementi orbitali. L'energia meccanica e la relazione bilineare, basilari nella teoria KS, acquistano interessanti interpretazioni cinematiche.
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Vivarelli, M.D. The KS-transformation revisited. Meccanica 29, 15–26 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00989522
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00989522