IFS Seminar

Abstract: 

This talk presents selected celestial mechanics problems in the Earth-Moon system (AKA Cislunar space) from a Hamiltonian dynamical systems perspective, with an emphasis on geometric structure and physical interpretation accessible to a physics audience. There will be a pedagogical overview of the foundational model, the circular restricted 3-body problem (CR3BP), and invariant structures therein. Within this framework, I will cover techniques for investigating dynamics on and around these invariant manifolds, providing examples of each technique applied to relevant celestial mechanics problems (e.g., long-time stability, persistence under perturbation). Then, we consider physically motivated perturbations arising from solar forcing, highlighting Melnikov analysis to determine the persistence of resonant and homoclinic orbits. The seminar will conclude with illustrations on how modern Hamiltonian techniques inform trajectory design and dynamical understanding in the Earth-Moon environment. 

Brief Bio: