An Explanation of the "Pioneer Effect" based on Quasi-Metric Relativity

TL;DR

This paper explains the Pioneer anomaly by comparing quasi-metric gravity predictions with Schwarzschild geometry, showing that misinterpretation of null paths causes an apparent anomalous force consistent with observations.

Contribution

It demonstrates that the Pioneer effect can be explained within quasi-metric gravity by analyzing test particle motion and electromagnetic signal paths, without conflicting with existing observations.

Findings

Misinterpretation of null paths leads to perceived anomalous forces.

Electromagnetic tracking suggests an apparent force of size cH.

The Pioneer anomaly is naturally explained by quasi-metric gravity.

Abstract

According to the socalled "quasi-metric" framework developed elsewhere, the cosmic expansion applies directly to gravitationally bound systems. This prediction has a number of observable consequences, none of which are in conflict with observation. In this paper we compare test particle motion in the nonstatic gravitational field outside a spherically symmetric source (as predicted by a quasi-metric theory of gravity) to test particle motion in the Schwarzschild geometry. It is found that if one incorrectly uses the Schwarzschild geometry (to the relevant accuracy) to represent the nonstatic quasi-metric model, the largest errors result from the mismodelling of null paths. One consequence of this is that using electromagnetic signals to track the motion of a non-relativistic particle results in the illusion that the particle is influenced by an anomalous force of size cH (where H is the Hubble parameter) directed towards the observer. This result naturally explains the apparently anomalous force acting on the Pioneer 10/11, Galileo and Ulysses spacecraft as inferred from radiometric data.