Published November 15, 2008 | Version v1
Journal article

Thermal analysis of the Pioneer anomaly: A method to estimate radiative momentum transfer

  • 1. Departamento de Fisica, Instituto Superior Tecnico, Avenida Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001 Lisboa (Portugal)
  • 2. Departamento de Engenharia Mecanica, Instituto Superior Tecnico, Avenida Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001 Lisboa (Portugal)

Description

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.

Additional details

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Physical Review. D, Particles Fields
Journal Volume
78
Journal Issue
10
Journal Page Range
p. 103001-103001.11
ISSN
0556-2821
CODEN
PRVDAQ

INIS

Country of Publication
United States
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
41002198
Subject category
S71: CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS;
Descriptors DEI
ACCELERATION; MOMENTUM TRANSFER; SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS; SIMULATION; THERMAL ANALYSIS; THERMODYNAMICS

Optional Information

Notes
(c) 2008 The American Physical Society