Definition
Tidal locking is a state of dynamical equilibrium between a planet’s spin and orbital angular momentum. Tidally locked planets on circular orbits may become synchronous rotators, presenting the same solid-body hemisphere to the star.
Overview
Tidally locked planets on circular orbits may become synchronous rotators, presenting the same solid-body hemisphere to the star. If the planet’s orbit is eccentric, either due to a primordial condition or maintained by interactions with other planets, then the rotation period will be less than the orbital period and the planet will not synchronously rotate. Planets interior to the tidal lock radius may also become trapped in spin-orbit resonances, where they complete an integer ratio of rotations on their axis to orbits around their star. For example, Mercury is within the Sun’s tidal lock radius in a 3:2 spin-orbit resonance, completing three rotations on its axis every two revolutions (orbits) around the Sun. For an M dwarf (less...
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References and Further Reading
Dole SH (1964) Habitable planets for man. Blaisdell Publishing, New York
Haberle RM, McKay C, Tyler D, Reynolds R (1996) Can synchronous rotating planets support an atmosphere? In: Doyle LR (ed) Circumstellar habitable zones. Travis House, Menlo Park, pp 29–41
Joshi M (2003) Climate model studies of synchronously rotating planets. Astrobiology 3:415–427
Joshi MM, Haberle RM, Reynolds RT (1997) Simulations of the atmospheres of synchronously rotating terrestrial planets orbiting M dwarfs: conditions for atmospheric collapse and the implications for habitability. Icarus 129:450–465
Kasting JF, Whitmire DP, Reynolds RT (1993) Habitable zones around main sequence stars. Icarus 101:108–128
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Kaltenegger, L. (2023). Habitable Zone, Effect of Tidal Locking. In: Gargaud, M., et al. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-65093-6_129
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