A Pulsar, the Heliosphere, and Pioneer 10: Probable Mimicking of a Planet of PSR B1257+12 by Solar Rotation
Klaus Scherer,
*
Horst Fichtner,
John D. Anderson,
Eunice L. Lau
Doppler data generated with the Pioneer 10 spacecraft's radio
carrier wave between 1987 and 1995 show a 25.3-day periodicity which is
related to the solar rotation. The timing data of the pulsar PSR
B1257+12 also show a periodicity of 25.34 days, which has been
explained as a signature of the pulsar's barycentric motion in
response to the existence of a small moon-like object. However, because
PSR B1257+12 is located close to the ecliptic and because the timing
variations are in the range of microseconds, it is likely that the
pulsar signal is affected by the same mechanism acting on the Pioneer
10 Doppler data. Hence, the hypothesized inner planet around PSR
B1257+12 is probably an artifact of the heliosphere.
K. Scherer, J. D. Anderson, E. L. Lau, Jet Propulsion
Laboratory, Mail Stop 301/230, Pasadena, CA 91119, USA.
H. Fichtner, Institut für Astrophysik und Extraterrestrische
Forschung der Universität Bonn, Auf dem Hügel 71, D-53121
Bonn, Germany.
*
To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail:
scherer{at}lindust.mpae.gwdg.de
Present address: Max-Planck-Institut für Aeronomie,
D-37191 Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany.
