Separatrix crossing in rotation of a body with changing geometry of masses

Abstract

We consider free rotation of a body whose parts move slowly with respect to each other under the action of internal forces. This problem can be considered as a perturbation of the Euler-Poinsot problem. The dynamics has an approximate conservation law - an adiabatic invariant. This allows to describe the evolution of rotation in the adiabatic approximation. The evolution leads to an overturn in the rotation of the body: the vector of angular velocity crosses the separatrix of the Euler-Poinsot problem. This crossing leads to a quasi-random scattering in body's dynamics. We obtain formulas for probabilities of capture into different domains in the phase space at separatrix crossings.