ON THE IONIZATION OF A KEPLERIAN BINARY-SYSTEM BY PERIODIC GRAVITATIONAL-RADIATION

The gravitational ionization of a Keplerian binary system via normally incident periodic gravitational radiation of definite helicity is dis cussed. The periodic orbits of the planar tidal equation are investiga ted on the basis of degenerate continuation theory. The relevance of t he Kolmogorov-Arnold-Moser theory to the question of gravitational ion ization is elucidated, and it is conjectured that the process of ioniz ation is closely related to the Arnold diffusion of the perturbed syst em. (C) 1996 American Institute of Physics.