Equivalence principle tests in earth orbit
Abstract
An analysis of experiments which test the uniqueness of the ratio of inertial and passive gravitational mass has been made. The analysis shows that an improvement in sensitivity of at least six orders of magnitude is possible in earth orbit. The optimum experiment compares the rate of fall of two independent test bodies in a cryogenic environment aboard a drag-free satellite; this 'free fall' experiment is very much less sensitive to gravity gradient than a torsion balance. The dominant noise sources for such an experiment are expected to be gravity gradients, tracking errors, and gas pressure effects; thermal noise is not a limiting factor. A laboratory version of the experiment is under test; preliminary results are described.
- Publication:
-
Anaheim International Astronautical Federation Congress
- Pub Date:
- October 1976
- Bibcode:
- 1976anah.iafcS....W
- Keywords:
-
- Earth Orbits;
- Equivalence;
- Gravimetry;
- Gravitational Fields;
- Mass Ratios;
- Acceleration (Physics);
- Accelerometers;
- Free Fall;
- Superconducting Magnets;
- Astrodynamics