Orbital resonances in the inner Neptunian system: I. The 2:1 Proteus–Larissa mean-motion resonance

We investigate the orbital resonant history of Proteus and Larissa, the two largest inner Neptunian satellites discovered by Voyager 2. Due to tidal migration, these two satellites probably passed through their 2:1 mean-motion resonance a few hundred million years ago. We investigate this resonance passage as a method to excite orbital eccentricities and inclinations, and find interesting constraints on the satellites’ mean density (0.05 g/cm3 < ρ̄ 1.5 g/cm3) and their tidal dissipation parameters (Qs > 10). Through numerical study of this mean-motion resonance passage, we identify a new type of three-body resonance between the satellite pair and Triton. These new resonances occur near the traditional two-body resonances between the small satellites and, surprisingly, are much stronger than their two-body counterparts, due to Triton’s large mass and orbital inclination. We determine the relevant resonant arguments and derive a mathematical framework for analyzing resonances in this special system. © 2006 Published by Elsevier Inc.