Are semi-numerical methods an effective tool for locating periodic orbits in 3D potentials?

Abstract

A semi-numerical method is used in order to locate the position and calculate the period of periodic orbits in a 3D composite bisymmetrical potential, in a number of resonant cases. The potential consists of a 3D harmonic oscillator and a Plummer sphere. The outcomes are compared with results found using the numerical integration of the equations of motion and the agreement is very good. This agreement strongly suggests, that semi-numerical methods can be used in order to obtain fast and reliable results regarding the position and period of the periodic orbits in 3D composite potentials with a harmonic oscillator part and different kinds of perturbations. Comparison with other methods of obtaining 3D periodic orbits is discussed.