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GR: Fachverband Gravitation und Relativitätstheorie
GR 403: Experimente zur Gravitation
GR 403.3: Vortrag
Donnerstag, 8. März 2007, 14:30–14:45, KIP Kl. HS
New analysis of an extended Pioneer 10 and 11 data set — •Meike List, Laura Mullin, Eva Hackmann, Claus Lämmerzahl, Stephan Theil, and Hansjörg Dittus — ZARM, University of Bremen, Am Fallturm, 28359 Bremen
A previous analysis of Doppler tracking data from Pioneer 10 and 11 has detected an anomalous, constant, acceleration of magnitude ∼ 8 × 10−8 cm s−2 directed toward the sun [1]. The studied period corresponded to a heliocentric distance interval of 40.0 to 70.5 AU in the case of Pioneer 10 and of 22.4 to 31.7 AU for Pioneer 11. The anomaly has been independently confirmed, but despite a study of the spacecraft systematics and influential forces being performed no satisfactory cause of the acceleration has yet been found.
An extended data set is now available that includes housekeeping telemetry as well as Doppler data and covers the majority of the mission lifetimes (that is, corresponding to 4.6 to 80.2 AU for Pioneer 10 and 1.0 to 41.7 AU for Pioneer 11). These extended data allow a rigorous search to be made for the cause of the anomalous acceleration using conventional physics. The ZARM project is performing an analysis of the entire Doppler data in an attempt to determine the magnitude and direction of the anomaly over the mission lifetimes. Telemetry data is used to investigate in detail maneuvers and fly-by events. Additionally, a FE thermal model is being constructed to examine the contribution of thermal radiation on the spacecraft acceleration. The status of the project will be discussed.
[1] Anderson et al., Phys.Rev. D 65, 082004, 2002