On the Ages of Planetary Systems with Mean Motion Resonances

TL;DR

This paper provides evidence that planetary systems with a 2/1 mean-motion resonance are generally younger, suggesting that such resonances tend to be disrupted over a few billion years.

Contribution

It introduces a statistical analysis linking the age of planetary systems to the presence of a 2/1 resonance, highlighting its transient nature.

Findings

Younger age of systems with 2/1 resonance

Resonance disruption occurs after a few Gyrs

Resonance presence correlates with system age

Abstract

We present preliminary though statistically significant evidence that shows that multiplanetary systems that exhibit a 2/1 period commensurability are in general younger than multiplanetary systems without commensurabilities, or even systems with other commensurabilities. An immediate possible conclusion is that the 2/1 mean-motion resonance in planetary systems, tends to be disrupted after typically a few Gyrs.