Hierarchical Triple Stability: Visual Calculator
Diagram-driven view of two close-in masses and one distant companion. Enter the inner-binary semi-major axis and the observed present-day outer separation, then inspect the stable region in the aout-eout plane.
Stable Region in aout vs eout
Patterned cells satisfy the stability criterion (///) and observed-separation compatibility (\\\). Cross-hatched regions show where both conditions overlap, using sobs <= aout (1 + eout).
Criterion reference: Mardling, R. A. 2001, Stability in the General Three-Body Problem, ASP Conf. Ser. 229, 101 (ADS).
Kozai-Lidov Timescale
Quadrupole-order estimate along the observed-separation column, using aout = sobs. The panel shows the effect of the outer eccentricity at eout = 0, emax/2, and emax, and includes the adopted ein correction.
Computation Logic (Step by Step)
This panel expands the arithmetic used by the code for the current inputs and explains how the plotted boundaries and printed outputs are obtained.