Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2025 / iii / Paper 316 / 3 / ii / Solution

Diagonalize the real Laplace-Lagrange secular matrix $\mathbf{A}$. Its eigenvalues areand choose corresponding real eigenvectors ${\mathbf{v}}_k$. If $V=({\mathbf{v}}_1{\mathbf{v}}_2)$, the initial complex eccentricity vector determines complex mode coefficientsThe matrix exponential solution isThuswhere a negative eigenvector component may equivalently be made positive by adding $\pi$ to its phase. The $g_k$ are secular precession frequencies, each eigenvector fixes the planets' eccentricity ratio and relative apsidal orientation, and ${\beta }_k$ fixes the phase selected by the initial conditions.