The web of three-planet resonances in the outer Solar System: II. A source of orbital instability for Uranus and Neptune |
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Authors: | Massimiliano Guzzo |
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Institution: | Dipartimento di Matematica Pura ed Applicata, Università degli Studi di Padova, via Belzoni 7, 35131 Padova, Italy |
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Abstract: | The motion of the giant planets from Jupiter to Neptune is chaotic with Lyapunov time of approximately 10 Myr. A recent theory explains the presence of this chaos with three-planet mean-motion resonances, i.e. resonances among the orbital periods of at least three planets. We find that the distribution of these resonances with respect to the semi-major axes of all the planets is compatible with orbital instability. In particular, they overlap in a region of 10−3 AU with respect to the variation of the semi-major axes of Uranus and Neptune. Fictitious planetary systems with initial conditions in this region can undergo systematic variations of semi-major axes. The true Solar System is marginally in this region, and Uranus and Neptune undergo very slow systematic variations of semi-major axes with speed of order 10−4 AU/Gyr. |
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Keywords: | Planetary dynamics Jovian planets Resonances Uranus Neptune |
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