Dynamical history of the Galilean satellites for a fast migration of Callisto

The dynamics of the innermost Galilean satellites (Io, Europa, and Ganymede) is characterized by a chain of mean motion resonances, called Laplace resonance, and by a strong tidal dissipation that causes wide variations of their semimajor axes over large time-scales. The precise history of energy dissipation in the Jovian system is not known, but several theories have been proposed. Tidal resonance locking states that big outer moons can also migrate fast. If this is the case for Callisto, then it should have crossed the 2:1 mean motion resonance with Ganymede in the past, affecting the motion of all four Galilean satellites. Therefore, we aim to determine whether a fast migration for Callisto is compatible with the current orbital configuration of the system. Due to the chaotic nature of the resonant crossing, different outcomes are possible. A small portion of our simulations shows that Callisto can cross the 2:1 resonance with Ganymede without being captured and preserving the Laplace resonance. However, in most cases, we found that Callisto is captured into resonance, despite its divergent migration. As Callisto continues to migrate fast outwards, the moons depart substantially from the exact 8:4:2:1 commensurability, while still maintaining the resonant chain. Callisto can eventually escape it by crossing a high-order mean motion resonance with Ganymede. Afterwards, the moons' system is able to relax to its current configuration for suitable dissipation parameters of the satellites. Therefore, it is possible, although challenging, to build a self-consistent picture of the past history of the Galilean satellites for a fast migration of Callisto.

Automated summary

The dynamics of the Galilean satellites are determined by Laplace resonance and strong tidal dissipation, causing variations of their semimajor axes. The compatibility of Callisto's fast migration with the current orbital configuration is investigated. Simulations show that Callisto can cross the 2:1 resonance with Ganymede without being captured, but is mostly captured despite its divergent migration. Eventually, Callisto can escape by crossing a high-order resonance with Ganymede and the system can relax to its current configuration.