4 research outputs found
Gravitational solution to the Pioneer 10/11 anomaly
A fully relativistic modified gravitational theory including a fifth force
skew symmetric field is fitted to the Pioneer 10/11 anomalous acceleration. The
theory allows for a variation with distance scales of the gravitational
constant G, the fifth force skew symmetric field coupling strength omega and
the mass of the skew symmetric field mu=1/lambda. A fit to the available
anomalous acceleration data for the Pioneer 10/11 spacecraft is obtained for a
phenomenological representation of the "running" constants and values of the
associated parameters are shown to exist that are consistent with fifth force
experimental bounds. The fit to the acceleration data is consistent with all
current satellite, laser ranging and observations for the inner planets.Comment: 14 pages, 3 figures, 3 tables. typo's were corrected at Equations (4)
and (12) and a third table including our predictions for the anomalous
perihelion advance of the planets was adde
Pioneer Anomaly and the Kuiper Belt mass distribution
Pioneer 10 and 11 were the first probes sent to study the outer planets of
the Solar System and Pioneer 10 was the first spacecraft to leave the Solar
System. Besides their already epic journeys, Pioneer 10 and 11 spacecraft were
subjected to an unaccounted effect interpreted as a constant acceleration
toward the Sun, the so-called Pioneer anomaly. One of the possibilities put
forward for explaining the Pioneer anomaly is the gravitational acceleration of
the Kuiper Belt. In this work we examine this hypothesis for various models for
the Kuiper Belt mass distribution. We find that the gravitational effect due to
the Kuiper Belt cannot account for the Pioneer anomaly. Furthermore, we have
also studied the hypothesis that drag forces can explain the the Pioneer
anomaly; however we conclude that the density required for producing the
Pioneer anomaly is many orders of magnitude greater than those of
interplanetary and interstellar dust. Our conclusions suggest that only through
a mission, the Pioneer anomaly can be confirmed and further investigated. If a
mission with these aims is ever sent to space, it turns out, on account of our
results, that it will be also a quite interesting probe to study the mass
distribution of the Kuiper Belt.Comment: Plain latex; 17 pages, 12 figures. Version to appear in Classical and
Quantum Gravity (2006