Abstract
Analyses of Lunar Laser Ranging data show that the spin-symmetry axis of
the Moon is ahead of its expected Cassini state by an angle of
$\phi_p$ = 0.27 arcsec. This indicates the presence of
one or more dissipation mechanisms acting on the lunar rotation. A
combination of solid-body tides and viscous core-mantle coupling have
been proposed in previous studies. Here, we investigate whether
viscoelastic deformation within a solid inner core at the centre of the
Moon can also account for a part of the observed phase lead angle
$\phi_p$. We build a rotational dynamic model of the
Cassini state of the Moon that comprises an inner core, a fluid core and
a mantle, and where solid regions are allowed to deform viscoelastically
in response to an applied forcing. We show that the presence of an inner
core does not change the global monthly Q of the Moon and hence, that
the contribution from solid-body tides to $\phi_p$ is
largely unaffected by an inner core. However, we also show that
viscoelastic deformation within the inner core, acting to realign its
figure axis with that of the mantle, can contribute significantly to
$\phi_p$ through inner core-mantle gravitational
coupling. We show that the contribution to $\phi_p$ is
largest when the inner core viscosity is in the range of
$10^{13}$ to $10^{14}$ Pa s, when the inner core radius is
large and when the free inner core nutation frequency approaches a
resonance with the precession frequency of $2\pi/18.6$
yr$^{-1}$.