2006/12/20 by John Hodge, John C. Hodge, Hodge, John C.
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Physics and Astronomy · #Geophysics and Gravity Measurements #Scientific Research and Discoveries #Solar and Space Plasma Dynamics #astro-ph #gr-qc
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.astro-ph/0612567
includes suggested clarifications
arxiv created 2007/01/20 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01
The unexplained sunward acceleration aP of the Pioneer 10 (P10) and the Pioneer 11 (P11) spacecraft remains a mystery. A scalar potential model (SPM) that derived from considerations of galaxy clusters, of redshift, and of H\scriptsizeI rotation curves of spiral galaxies is applied to the Pioneer Anomaly. Matter is posited to warp the scalar potential ρ field. The changing ρ field along the light path causes the Pioneer Anomaly. The SPM is consistent with the general value of aP; with the annual periodicity; with the differing aP between the spacecraft; with the discrepancy between Sigma and CHASMP programs at P10 (I) and their closer agreement at P10 (III); with the slowly declining aP; with the low value of aP immediately before the P11's Saturn encounter; with the high uncertainty in the value of aP obtained during and after the P11's Saturn encounter; and with the cosmological connection suggested by aP ≈ cHo. The effect of the ρ field warp appears as the curvature of space proposed by general relativity (GR). The Hubble Law and aP ≈ cHo are manifestations of the Newtonian spherical property. Therefore, gravitational attraction, the equivalence principle, and the planet ephemeris remain as described by GR. GR corresponds to the SPM in the limit in which the Sources and Sinks may be replaced by a flat and static ρ field such as between cluster cells and on the Solar System scale at a relatively large distance from a Source or Sink.