Editorial

The Galilean satellites Io, Europa, and Ganymede interact through several stable orbital resonances where $\text{λ}{}_1\text{? 2λ}{}_2\text{+}\text{ω}{}_1\text{= 0, λ}{}_1\text{? 2λ}{}_2\text{+}\text{ω}{}_2\text{= 180°, λ}{}_2\text{? 2λ}{}_3\text{+}\text{ω}{}_2\text{= 0}$ and λ₁ ? 3λ₂ + 2λ₃ = 180°, with λ_i being the mean longitude of the ith satellite and $\text{ω}{}_{\mathrm{i}}$ the longitude of the pericenter. The last relation involving all three bodies is known as the Laplace relation. A theory of origin and subsequent evolution of these resonances outlined earlier (C. F. Yoder, 1979b, Nature279, 747–770) is described in detail. From an initially quasi-random distribution of the orbits the resonances are assembled through differential tidal expansion of the orbits. Io is driven out most rapidly and the first two resonance variables above are captured into libration about 0 and 180° respectively with unit probability. The orbits of Io and Europa expand together maintaining the 2:1 orbital commensurability and Europa's mean angular velocity approaches a value which is twice that of Ganymede. The third resonance variable and simultaneously the Laplace angle are captured into libration with probability ～0.9. The tidal dissipation in Io is vital for the rapid damping of the libration amplitudes and for the establishment of a quasi-stationary orbital configuration. Here the eccentricity of Io's orbit is determined by a balance between the effects of tidal dissipation in Io and that in Jupiter, and its measured value leads to the relation $\text{k}{}_1\text{?}{}_1\text{/Q}{}_1\text{≈ 900k}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>J</mtext>}}\text{/Q}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>J</mtext>}}$ with the k's being Love numbers, the Q's dissipation factors, and f a factor to account for a molten core in Io. This relation and an upper bound on Q₁ deduced from Io's observed thermal activity establishes the bounds 6 × 10⁴ < Q_J < 2 × 10⁶, where the lower bound follows from the limited expansion of the satellite orbits. The damping time for the Laplace libration and therefore a minimum lifetime of the resonance is 1600 Q_J years. Passage of the system through nearby three-body resonances excites free eccentricities. The remnant free eccentricity of Europa leads to the relation $\text{Q}{}_2\text{/?}{}_2\text{? 2 × 10}{}^{\mathrm{?4}}\text{Q}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>J</mtext>}}$ for rigidity μ₂ = 5 × 10¹¹ dynes/cm². Probable capture into any of several stable 3:1 two-body resonances implies that the ratio of the orbital mean motions of any adjacent pair of satellites was never this large.A generalized Hamiltonian theory of the resonances in which third-order terms in eccentricity are retained is developed to evaluate the hypothesis that the resonances were of primordial origin. The Laplace relation is unstable for values of Io's eccentricity e₁ > 0.012 showing that the theory which retains only the linear terms in e₁ is not valid for values of e₁ larger than about twice the current value. Processes by which the resonances can be established at the time of satellite formation are undefined, but even if primordial formation is conjectured, the bounds established above for Q_J cannot be relaxed. Electromagnetic torques on Io are also not sufficient to relax the bounds on Q_J. Some ideas on processes for the dissipation of ideal energy in Jupiter yield values of Q_J within the dynamical bounds, but no theory has produced a Q_J small enough to be compatible with the measurements of heat flow from Io given the above relation between Q₁ and Q_J. Tentative observational bounds on the secular acceleration of Io's mean motion are also shown not to be consistent with such low values of Q_J. Io's heat flow may therefore be episodic. Q_J may actually be determined from improved analysis of 300 years of eclipse data.