Stability of resonant configurations during the migration of planets and constraints on disk-planet interactions

Abstract

We study the stability of mean-motion resonances (MMR) between two planets during their migration in a protoplanetary disk. We use an analytical model of resonances and describe the effect of the disk by a migration timescale (T-m,T-i) and an eccentricity damping timescale (T-e,T-i) for each planet (i = 1; 2 for the inner and outer planets, respectively). We show that the resonant configuration is stable if T-e,T-1/T-e,T-2 > (e(1)/e(2))(2). This general result can be used to put constraints on specific models of disk-planet interactions. For instance, using classical prescriptions for type-I migration, we show that when the angular momentum deficit (AMD) of the inner orbit is greater than the outer's orbit AMD, resonant systems must have a locally inverted disk density profile to stay locked in resonance during the migration. This inversion is very atypical of type-I migration and our criterion can thus provide an evidence against classical type-I migration. That is indeed the case for the Jupiter-mass resonant systems HD 60532b, c (3: 1 MMR), GJ 876b, c (2: 1 MMR), and HD 45364b, c (3: 2 MMR). This result may be evidence of type-II migration (gap-opening planets), which is compatible with the high masses of these planets.