A perturbation method and some applications

Abstract

For differential equations with one fast variable, a perturbation method is introduced that transforms a solution valid over only a short time interval to a new solution composed of averaged variables plus a periodic function of the averaged variables. The averaged variables are governed by a set of differential equations where the fast variable has been removed and thus can be numerically integrated quickly or solved directly. This method is applied to a perturbed harmonic oscillator with a cubic perturbation, van der Pol's equation, coorbital motion in the restricted three-body problem, and to nearly circular motion of a particle near one of the primaries in the restricted three-body problem.