Thermal analysis of the Pioneer anomaly: A method to estimate radiative momentum transfer
Abstract
We present a methodology based on pointlike Lambertian sources that enables one to perform a reliable and comprehensive estimate of the overall thermally induced acceleration of the Pioneer 10 and 11 spacecraft. We show, by developing a sensitivity analysis of the several parameters of the model, that one may achieve a valuable insight into the possible thermal origin of the so-called Pioneer anomaly.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review D
- Pub Date:
- November 2008
- DOI:
- arXiv:
- arXiv:0807.0041
- Bibcode:
- 2008PhRvD..78j3001B
- Keywords:
-
- 07.87.+v;
- 24.10.Pa;
- 44.40.+a;
- Spaceborne and space research instruments apparatus and components;
- Thermal and statistical models;
- Thermal radiation;
- Physics - Space Physics;
- Astrophysics;
- General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
- E-Print:
- 12 pages, 8 figures, 5 tables