Pioneer anomaly not gravitational

[Zman]

The Pioneer anomaly
I read that the Pioneer anomaly is a sunward acceleration that is larger than Newtonian gravity predicts.
This extra acceleration has been measured at;
(8.74 ± 1.33) × 10⁻¹⁰ m/s2 between 10AU and 90AU from the Sun.

But because the ‘extra acceleration’ is constant across about 80 AU of space, how can it be gravitational in nature?
If it was gravitational surely the value of the ‘extra acceleration’ would fall, the further away the Pioneer was.

At some point this ‘extra acceleration’ would swamp the Newtonian component.

 

[phyzguy]

The Pioneer anomaly is essentially solved (IMHO). See this paper:

http://arxiv.org/abs/1103.5222v1

The spacecraft contains an onboard radioistope energy source, so it is radiating energy to the environment. Because it is not a symmetrical object, it does not radiate uniformly in all directions. Since EM radiation carries momentum, the non-uniform radiation results in a force on the spacecraft . This force has been calculated quantitatively in the attached paper, and explains the observed acceleration of the spacecraft rather well.

 

[Zman]

Thanks phyzguy

That has put that question to rest for me.

The constant value of the anomaly across vast distances was more likely going to be due to an onboard source than gravity.

Although I think the paper still leaves a very small opening for alternative interpretations as they still undershot the value slightly.

 

[phyzguy]

For those interested, a new paper with additional data has improved the fit of the thermal radiation model, and shows that the anomalous acceleration appears to be decaying exponentially in time, as would be expected.

http://arxiv.org/abs/1107.2886v1

 

[pmacias]

I understand your concern about the Pioneer anomaly and its potential implications for our understanding of gravity. However, I would like to point out that there are still ongoing investigations and debates about the true cause of this anomaly. It is important to keep an open mind and consider all possibilities before jumping to conclusions.

One explanation for the Pioneer anomaly is that it could be due to thermal radiation from the spacecraft's power source. Another possibility is that it could be caused by an asymmetric emission of heat from the spacecraft's surface. Both of these explanations do not involve any deviation from Newtonian gravity.

It is also worth noting that the Pioneer anomaly is a very small effect, and it could be within the margin of error of our current measurements. Further studies and data analysis are needed to confirm its existence and determine its true cause.

In science, it is important to approach anomalies with caution and skepticism, and to continue investigating until a clear and conclusive explanation is found. We must not let one anomaly challenge our entire understanding of gravity, which has been extensively tested and proven to be accurate in numerous experiments and observations.

So, while the Pioneer anomaly may not be gravitational in nature, it does not necessarily undermine our current understanding of gravity. It simply presents a new and intriguing puzzle for us to solve.