Periodic orbits in a three-dimensional galactic potential model via averaging theory

Abstract

The Milky Way is a gigantic spiral-shaped disk with a bright, central bulge containing over 100 billion stars that revolves around the central core, the galaxy moves continuously, likewise, our solar system is also in motion. The solar system is located about 3/4 of the way out from the center in one of the galaxy’s spiral arms. Since the first images of the Milky Way as individual stars obtained by Galileo Galilei, the knowledge of this galaxy has increasingly grown, but even now, is very far from being complete. Many scholars have directed their attention to its study, making it an extensive area of research by using all the available tools existing within their area of expertise. Galaxies are defined as large groups of stars together with dust and gas that are held together by the action of the gravity force. Since galaxies are very complex dynamical objects, it becomes important to study their dynamics. One way to do so is to consider it under the realm of the n-body problem for large n, integrating the equations of motion for systems up to thousands of stars by making use of extensive numerical computations [1], or carry out studies from a theoretical point of view