Long-range acceleration induced by a scalar field external to gravity and the indication from Pioneer 10/11, Galileo and Ulysses Data

TL;DR

This paper proposes that the Pioneer effect is caused by a long-range scalar field interacting with spacecraft, leading to a constant acceleration, supported by data from Pioneer 10/11, Galileo, and Ulysses missions.

Contribution

It introduces a novel explanation for the Pioneer effect involving an external scalar field, linking observational data with theoretical physics.

Findings

Scalar field induces a constant acceleration consistent with Pioneer data

Supports the weak equivalence principle in the context of the scalar field

Provides a potential new physics mechanism for observed spacecraft anomalies

Abstract

We suggest an explanation of the "Pioneer effect" based on the interaction of the spacecraft with a long-range scalar field, $\phi$. The scalar field under consideration is external to gravity, coupled to the ordinary matter and undergoes obedience to the weak equivalence principle. In the weak fields limit it result a long-range acceleration $a_{P}$, asymptotically constant within the region of the solar system hitherto crossed by the spacecraft.