  The long term nonlinear dynamics of a Keplerian binary system under the
combined influences of gravitational radiation damping and external tidal
perturbations is analyzed. Gravitational radiation reaction leads the binary
system towards eventual collapse, while the external periodic perturbations
could lead to the ionization of the system via Arnold diffusion. When these two
opposing tendencies nearly balance each other, interesting chaotic behavior
occurs that is briefly studied in this paper. It is possible to show that
periodic orbits can exist in this system for sufficiently small damping.
Moreover, we employ the method of averaging to investigate the phenomenon of
capture into resonance.
