On the stability of electrostatic orbits

摘要

We analyze the stability of two charged conducting spheres orbiting each other. Due to charge polarization, the electrostatic force between the two spheres deviates significantly from 1 / r2 as they come close to each other. As a consequence, there exists a critical angular momentum, L_c, with a corresponding critical radius re. For L> Lc two circular orbits are passible: one at r> r_c that is stable and the other at r G re that is unstable. This critical behavior is analyzed as a function of the charge and the size ratios of the two spheres.