View source for Hénon-Heiles System

The Hénon-Heiles equation is a nonlinear nonintegrable [[Hamiltonian system]] where the potential energy function is defined by a [[polar coordinate system]].  It was developed by [[Michel Hénon]] and [[Carl Heiles]] for modelling galactic dynamics.

== Description ==

While at Princeton in 1962, Hénon and Heiles worked on the non-linear motion of a star around a galactic center where the motion is restricted to a plane.

In 1964 they have published an article titled 'The applicability of the third integral of motion: Some numerical experiments'.

Their original idea was to find a third integral of motion in a galactic dynamics. For that purpose they have taken a simplified two-dimensional nonlinear axi-symmetric potential and found that the third integral exist only for a limited number of initial conditions.

In the modern perspective these initial conditions which doesn't have the third integral motion are called chaotic orbits.

== See also ==

* [[Dynamical systems]]
* [[Hamiltonian system]]
* [[Polar coordinate system]]

== External links ==

* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%A9non-Heiles_System Hénon-Heiles System] @ Wikipedia


[[Category:Astronomy]]
[[Category:Mathematics]]