Lyapunov indices with two nearby trajectories in a curved spacetime

We compare three methods for computing invariant Lyapunov exponents (LEs) in general relativity. They involve the geodesic deviation vector technique (M1), the two-nearby-orbits method with projection operations and with coordinate time as an independent variable (M2), and the two-nearby-orbits method without projection operations and with proper time as an independent variable (M3). An analysis indicates that M1 and M3 do not need any projection operation. In general, the values of LEs from the three methods are almost the same. As an advantage, M3 is simpler to use than M2. In addition, we propose to construct the invariant fast Lyapunov indictor (FLI) with two-nearby-trajectories and give its algorithm in order to quickly distinguish chaos from order. Taking a static axisymmetric spacetime as a physical model, we apply the invariant FLIs to explore the global dynamics of phase space of the system where regions of chaos and order are clearlyidentified.

Revisit on Ruling out chaos in compact binary systems

Full general relativity requires that chaos indicators should be invariant in various spacetime coordinate systems for a given relativistic dynamical problem. On the basis of this point, we calculate the invariant Lyapunov exponents (LEs) for one of the spinning compact binaries in the conservative second post-Newtonian (2PN) Lagrangian formulation without the dissipative effects of gravitational radiation, using the two-nearby-orbits method with projection operations and with coordinate time as an independent variable. It is found that the actual source leading to zero LEs in one paper [J. D. Schnittman and F. A. Rasio, Phys. Rev. Lett. 87, 121101 (2001)] but to positive LEs in the other [N. J. Cornish and J. Levin, Phys. Rev. Lett. 89, 179001 (2002)] does not mainly depend on rescaling, but is due to two slightly different treatments of the LEs. It takes much more CPU time to obtain the stabilizing limit values as reliable values of LEs for the former than to get the slopes (equal to LEs) of the fit lines for the latter. Due to coalescence of some of the black holes, the LEs from the former are not an adaptive indicator of chaos for comparable mass compact binaries. In this case, the invariant fast Lyapunov indicator (FLI) of two-nearby orbits, as a very sensitive tool to distinguish chaos from order, is worth recommending. As a result, we do again find chaos in the 2PN approximation through different ratios of FLIs varying with time. Chaos cannot indeed be ruled out in real binaries.