Poynting–Robertson decay of a circumstellar orbit ($⟨\dot{a}{⟩}_{\mathrm{cs}}$)

With $A=\beta G{M}_{\star }/c$ constant, average the drag work $\dot{\epsilon }=-A(2{\dot{r}}^2+v_{\theta }^2)/r^2$ over a bound elliptic orbit. Using $dt=r^{2}df/h$ gives the integral $\pi (2+3e^2){\mu }^2/h^2$, where $\mu$ is the conservative central parameter. Combining with $\dot{a}=2a^2\dot{\epsilon }/\mu$ givesThis is a weak-drag secular average. It also holds when the conservative parameter is $(1-\beta )G{M}_{\star }$, provided a bound orbit exists; the conservative parameter cancels but the drag amplitude remains $A$. For a circular Kepler orbit, $a^2(t)=a_0^2-4At$.