Dynamical evolution of triple systems.

Numerical simulation was used to study the dynamics of triple systems with negative total energy. The decay of triple systems is shown to be a stochastic process similar to radioactive decay; the mean lifetime is estimated to be one-million years for triple stars, and 100-billion years for triplets of galaxies. Also examined is the dynamical evolution of binary systems in the framework of the three body problem. Finally, various aspects of the three-body problem in stellar and extragalactic astronomy are considered.