On the relation between resonance and instability in planetary systems

The factors which affect the linear stability of a periodic planetary orbit in the plane are studied. It is proved that planetary systems with two planets describing nearly circular orbits in the same direction are linearly stable and no perturbation exists which destroys the stability, unless a resonance of the form 1/3, 3/5, 5/7, ... among the orbits of the planets occurs. This latter resonant case is always unstable. Retrograde motion is always linearly stable. Planetary systems with three or more planets in nearly circular orbits in the same direction are proved to be unstable, in the sense that a Hamiltonian perturbation always exists which destroys the stability. The generation of instability in the case of three or more planets is not only due to the existence of resonances, as in the case of two planets, but also to the nonexistence of integrals of motion, apart from the energy and angular momentum integrals. It is also proved that planetary systems with nearly elliptic orbits of the planets are unstable.