EVOLUTION OF TRIPLE-SYSTEMS - STOCHASTIC- BEHAVIOR AND DYNAMIC INSTABILITY

Stochastic properties of the dynamics of the triple systems of gravita ting bodies are investigated. Numerical models of such systems are con structed with particular attention to the case of the galaxy triplets. It is shown that the temporal behavior of the virial coefficient and of the configuration radius of triplets displays stochastic features. The divergence of initially close phase-space trajectories is observed . By using the method of Lyapunov's exponents, the increment rate of t he dynamic instability for triple galaxies is estimated. Statistical r egularities of the evolution of the ensemble of the triplets in the tr iple configuration space are found.