2016
DOI: 10.1016/j.icarus.2015.09.024
|View full text |Cite
|
Sign up to set email alerts
|

Consequences of a solid inner core on Mercury’s spin configuration

Abstract: The pressure torque by a liquid core that drove Mercury to the nominal Cassini state of rotation is dominated by the torque from the solid inner core. The gravitational torque exerted on Mercury's mantle from an asymmetric solid inner core increases the equilibrium obliquity of the mantle spin axis. Since the observed obliquity of the mantle must be compatible with a solid inner core of any size, the moment of inertia inferred from the occupancy of the Cassini state must be reduced to compensate the torque fro… Show more

Help me understand this report

Search citation statements

Order By: Relevance

Paper Sections

Select...
1
1
1
1

Citation Types

1
65
4

Year Published

2016
2016
2019
2019

Publication Types

Select...
7

Relationship

4
3

Authors

Journals

citations
Cited by 29 publications
(70 citation statements)
references
References 32 publications
1
65
4
Order By: Relevance
“…However, no direct measurements are currently available and it is not evident that an improved measurement accuracy of the MoI and C m / C will lead to a direct detection (Margot et al, ; Rivoldini & Van Hoolst, ). Peale et al () pointed out that the value of the MoI has to be adjusted due to a possible additional torque from a nonspherical inner core. This effect is greater for larger inner core radii (>35% of the solid core radius).…”
Section: Resultsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…However, no direct measurements are currently available and it is not evident that an improved measurement accuracy of the MoI and C m / C will lead to a direct detection (Margot et al, ; Rivoldini & Van Hoolst, ). Peale et al () pointed out that the value of the MoI has to be adjusted due to a possible additional torque from a nonspherical inner core. This effect is greater for larger inner core radii (>35% of the solid core radius).…”
Section: Resultsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…To do better justice to the Cassini state of Mercury's inner core and to predict its angle of tilt more precisely requires a more in‐depth study. Indeed, a recent study suggests that gravitational coupling between the inner core and mantle may affect Mercury's Cassini state [ Peale et al , ].…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…An additional gravitational torque on that shell may be generated by a solid inner core that departs from spherical symmetry (Peale et al, 2016). The spin axis of Mercury's outer solid shell tends to be forced toward the Cassini state by the strong pressure torque between the outer molten core and the mantle.…”
Section: Methods and Geodetic Measurementsmentioning
confidence: 99%