Critic: Roy N.

Meez
Title of Thesis: Trojan Asteroid Orbits via Perturbation Theory in Geometric Algebra
Thesis Proponent/s: Javier Alejandro Osmea Jalandoni
Thesis Adviser: Dr. Quirino Sugon Jr.

Synopsis:

The aim of the thesis is to solve and plot the orbital motion of Trojan asteroids, a term coined by
Lagrange, that is being acted on by two distinct objects: the Sun and the planet Jupiter. As such,
it is considered as a restricted three-body problem; a system in which you exclude all other
forces acting upon these three celestial bodies except for the internal interacting forces between
these three celestial bodies. The asteroid being the smallest among the three celestial bodies,
experiences the largest force due to gravity, and is kept in a constant and stable orbit due to
Coriolis force as it rotates around the Sun. Trojan asteroids are assumed to follow a distinct
perturbed circular orbit and passes through two Lagrange points located 60 degrees ahead and
behind Jupiter. These two points are considered to be stable equilibrium points, the reason being
it follows an equilateral triangle arrangement, and that the Trojan asteroids experience near 0
velocity along these points.

As mentioned in the thesis, the restricted three-body problem cannot be solved exactly. To make
up for this, perturbation theory is used to estimate the values of the orbital motion experience by
the Trojan asteroids. To quote: The simplified motion of the asteroid is assumed to be circular.
Jupiter in this case would be considered as the perturbing factor. The end result would then be a
series of terms of higher-order perturbed terms. An estimated perturbed solution is then found by
only taking into account first 2 terms, or the 0
th
and 1
st
ordered terms. This simplification of the
system is deemed enough to quantifiably estimate the solution of the three-body problem
because higher-order perturbed terms more than the 1
st
ordered term would generally produce
small effects on the motion of the Trojan asteroids.

Furthermore, Geometric Algebra (Clifford Algebra) is used to further quantify the orbit of the
Trojan asteroids. This is a powerful to represent the interactions of three-dimensional three-body
problem into a single algebra using standard vector operations.

As for how the methodology is carried out, it is a bit a lot to take in one sitting as it involves
purely equations and geometrical representation of the problem. In essence, it can be surmised in
the following text:

Between the two possible Lagrange points in which the orbit passes, one is selected. The position
of the Jupiter is represented by position vector J while the Lagrange point, relatively close as to
where the asteroid sits, is represented by position vector L. The Sun is taken as the center of the
simplified circular orbit for both the Jupiter and the Trojan asteroid taking R, to make the orbit
circular, as the average radial distance of the Jupiter from the Sun. The magnitude of J and L is
quantified using the distance R taking into account that L is 60 degrees ahead of J. Both the
position vectors J and L experience an angular frequency , which is gravitational rotational
movement induced by the Sun, a larger body-mass, on both Jupiter and the Lagrangian point.
The Trojan asteroid sits between positions J and L, and the force it experiences is based on
Newtons gravitational force law, which is acted upon to it both by the Sun and the planet Jupiter.
It is then found out that for both Jupiter and the Trojan asteroid to follow a circular orbit, the
following condition should be met:

o
2

GM
r
0
3

where G is the gravitational constant, M is the mass of the rotating body around the Sun, and r
0
as the radial distance of the rotation body around the Sun.

In order to find the equation of motion to represent the forces experienced by the Trojan asteroid,
Perturbation theory was to simplify the restricted three-body problem. The Trojan asteroid
experiences a force both from the Sun and the planet Jupiter, but there lies a perturbation
parameter which perturbs the asteroids simplified motion. This leads to quite an in depth and
detailed equations from which the acceleration experienced by the Trojan asteroid is found. An
assumption that the distance of the asteroid from the Lagrange point is relatively smaller from its
radial distance simplifies the equation for acceleration.

Finally, the equation of motion is solved using the substitution of already solved equations. This
stems simply from the second time derivative of the equation used to find the radial distance of
the Trojan asteroid. The second time derivative is the total acceleration experienced by the
Trojan asteroid, and as perturbation theory holds, there are 0
th
and 1
st
terms for the equation that
can be solved by secluding from each other. Damping occurs, so the solution to the equation
would be the total sum of the complementary solution and the particular solution. Initial
conditions are set to find constants to finish the general solution to represent the motion
experienced by the Trojan asteroid which is:
s e
1
s
0x
( ) cos
3
2

0
t +
2
3
1

0
s
0x
sin
3
2

0
t +

i
2
3
s
0x
s
0y

1

0
s
0y

sin
3
2

0
t +s
0y
cos
3
2

0
t

.


As for the results and discussions, the orbital path of the Trojan asteroid was plotted using the
general solution which was recently mentioned. The Trojan asteroid follows a circular path
which is slightly perturbed due to damping caused by the gravitational pull of both the Sun and
the planet Jupiter. Although the radial distance of the Trojan asteroid from the Sun is far larger
compared to the distance between the Trojan asteroid and the planet Jupiter, the gravitational
effects experienced by the Trojan asteroid is primarily caused by the Sun due its being more
massive than Jupiter. If we generalized the system, we can assume that the perturbation
experienced by the circular orbit is caused by the planet Jupiter. However, this is not entirely true,
as the path actually depends more on how we set the assumed initial conditions of the system.

Critique and Personal Reaction:

Any scientific basis is rooted from a theory which is used to model a certain phenomenon. And
in all cases, the theory doesnt capture the entirety of the phenomenon as we are taking a lot into
consideration. The solution or the equation used to represent the theory doesnt lead to causation,
but rather it only creates some form of correlation to what is true. The theorys worth is based on
how much effective or efficient it is to capture what is true, but again, in reality it doesnt really
hold all the truths behind the phenomenon. Such is the limitations of any scientific theory, and I
daresay the same can be said to this thesis.
For one, it uses a restricted three-body system, and it doesnt consider the limitless amounts of
other celestial bodies that affect the motion of the Trojan asteroids. More so the fact that it only
considers gravitational force as the only proponent of the motion of the Trojan asteroids.

In any case, the fact that it takes a lot into consideration doesnt make it a bad thesis or anything.
Scientific basis, as I said earlier, has underlying limitations that cannot be removed. In any case,
the study is important as it widens our understanding of Lagrange points which is important in
the field of astrophysics. As a refresher, Lagrange points are where near equilibrium exists;
where objects may revolve around a certain orbit for quite a long time. For example, satellites
can be placed on those positions where they will orbit around a body-mass without having to
worry about getting thrown off course.

I cannot give out much opinion about the methodology used in the thesis. That level of Physics is
quite beyond me if I was without guidance. I cannot give out any suggestions as to how to make
the general solution a bit more effective in representing the motion of the Trojan asteroids. For
now, I concede to the efficiency of the methodology used in the thesis.

In any case, if I were given the task to continue and pursue a more sound, or rather, a more
accurate general solution to represent the motion of the Trojan asteroids using Geometrical
Algebra with perturbation or with other means, I would gladly take up the challenge. For one,
astronomy and astronomy physics has been a field that Ive been interested since I was a kid. It is
of my great interest to help the astronomical community in creating more innovations,
speculating sound theories, and help in other various ways. One thing I could do to make the
thesis more credible is maybe to carry out field tests. If I had the capacity to do so, I could track
a certain Trojan asteroid and plot its motion and cross-examine it with the general solution
provided by the thesis. Does the general solution provided by the thesis able to closely represent
the path of the Trojan asteroid? What initial conditions should be set in order for it to accurately
depict the Trojan asteroids path? These questions would likely be the core of my proposed field
test.

To wrap everything up, although limitations might arise, it is still the job of a scientist to capture
the truth of the universe into theories, equations, and models as accurately as he could. The thesis
shows how much a scientist can capture a certain phenomenon, and by the same token, how
much of the truth he cant capture. Although quite heavy on the equations, I find the thesis
generally interesting because of its relation to astrophysics. Its worth on the scientific community
is quite commendable, given the fact that it widens our knowledge on Lagrange points, the
markers of stable orbits that further helps in our general understanding of the universe.