Resonant Structure and Chaotic Diffusion of the Jovian Irregular Satellites.

International audienceThe dynamical region of the Jovian irregular satellites presents an interesting web of resonances. Along with secular and mean motion resonances which shape the stability regions, we report a number of resonances involving the Great Inequality which are present in the system thanks to the wide range of the frequency of pericenter value available for the satellites in the stable regions. Using extensive numerical integrations of the satellites along with an indicator of chaos (MEGNO), we give global and detailled views of the retrograde and prograde regions for various dynamical models and show the apparition of the different types of resonances. The chaotic diffusion of the satellites is also studied and shows the long term stability of the Ananke and Carme families, in contrast with the Pasiphae family