Solar System Dynamics

by Stanley F. Dermott (Joint Author), S. F. Dermott (Other), Carl D. Murray, Stanley F. Dermott

Overview

The force of gravity acting over eons has provided the solar system with an intricate dynamical structure, much of it revealed by recent space missions. This comprehensive introduction to the dynamical features of the solar system also provides all the mathematical tools and physical models needed for a complete understanding of the subject. Clearly written and well illustrated coverage shows how a basic knowledge of the two- and three-body problems and perturbation theory can be combined to understand features as diverse as the tidal heating of Jupiter's moon Io, the origin of the Kirkwood gaps in the asteroid belt, and the radial structure of Saturn's rings. Problems at the end of each chapter and a free Internet Mathematica® software package help students to fully develop their understanding of the subject. This volume provides an authoritative textbook for advanced undergraduate and graduate courses on planetary dynamics and celestial mechanics. It also equips students with the mathematical tools to tackle broader courses on dynamics, dynamical systems, applications of chaos theory and nonlinear dynamics. Written by two leading figures in planetary dynamics, it is a benchmark publication in the field and destined to become a classic.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521575973
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	02/13/2000
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	608
Product dimensions:	6.69(w) x 9.61(h) x 1.22(d)

Table of Contents

Preface; 1. Structure of the solar system; 2. The two-body problem; 3. The restricted three-body problem; 4. Tides, rotation and shape; 5. Spin-orbit coupling; 6. The disturbing function; 7. Secular perturbations; 8. Resonant perturbations; 9. Chaos and long-term evolution; 10. Planetary rings; Appendix A. Solar system data; Appendix B. Expansion of the disturbing function; Index.

Editorial Reviews

"...the first textbook to describe the powerful new analytic and numerical methods in planetary dynamics, and one of the most important textbooks in this field in several decades. It will be read by every serious student of solar system dynamics." Professor Scott Tremaine, Princeton University

"The need for a new and exhaustive book in solar system dynamics is wonderfully met by [this] text....stimulating, well-written, and informative, it discusses in a masterly way every significant and exciting recent development in the subject. The authors' crystal-clear exposition...is greatly helped by the inclusion of the necessary classical background...[and] cleverly-constructed problems...[this] book will undoubtedly take its place with previously acknowledged leaders in its field. It will become indispensable to undergraduate and postgraduate students and to the serious researcher." Professor Archie E. Roy, University of Glasgow

"...a lucid textbook and a comprehensive reference....An authoritative work of this type is long overdue and this one should remain a classic in the field for years to come." Dr. Donald K. Yeomans, NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory

"...succeeds admirably in presenting the classical methods as well as the latest research techniques and results...likely to become the standard graduate-level text in this field. I wish I'd had it when I started out in solar system dynamics." Professor Martin J. Duncan, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario

"...this book is well written, well organized, and is certainly a welcome addition to the library of any astrodynamacist, solar system or not." Applied Mechanics Reviews

"All topics are covered both qualitatively and quantitatively with impressive rigor... A useful resource for students studying mathematical techniques in dynamics." Choice

"The book under review, written by leading specialists in the field, is an excellent addition to the literature on solar system dynamics and, more generally, celestial mechanics...It provides an in-depth presentation of what is known at this point, including many results of the authors themselves." Mathematical Reviews

"The book represents an exciting excursion into the dynamics of the solar system as a whole and of its separate constituents (planets, planetary satellites, asteroids, comets etc). The book represents a "bridge" from the classical celestial mechanics to the modern dynamical astronomy. ... As a whole, [this monograph] represents an indubitable interest for the scientific researchers who specialize in the field of celestial mechanics and dynamics of the solar-system bodies, as well as for the students and aspirants of corresponding specialties." - Translated review, originally written by K.B.Kholshhevnikov and V.V.Orlov for Astron. Vestnik

"...[the authors] have expanded significantly the usual boundaries of the old classical Celestial mechanics, taking into account the development of the ground-based observations and observations from space, and unprecedented progress of the computational means and codes. It allowed to not only present, with mathematical rigor, the results of the studies of the solar-system dynamics known from the classical Celestial mechanics, but also to introduce the reader to the relatively young scientific discipline related with modern theories of resonant events and chaos. ... The book is targeted for the specialists working in the field of modern Celestial mechanics, and for the university students and aspirants." - Translated review, originally written by V.K.Abalakin for Books about the Earth and the Sky

From the Publisher