Potentiality of an orbiting interferometer for space-time experiments.
Abstract
The advantages to be derived from the use of an earth-orbiting Michelson interferometer in experiments in space-time physics are presented. The space environment precludes the mechanical noise caused by vibrations of seismic origin and allows continuous steady rotation of the instrument in any direction by spinning the spacecraft. The sensitivity of the interferometer in measuring light speed anisotropy could be improved to almost the limit imposed by the photon shot noise of the laser (from a factor of 10 to the -10th for ground-based measurements to 10 to the -18th if an arm length of 0.1 m, a light beam path lengthening of 100 times, a laser power of 1 mW and an integration time of 10 to the 6th sec were used). An orbiting interferometer would also allow experiments employing the gravitational field of the earth, thus potentially increasing sensitivity by 13 orders of magnitude, and the more precise measurement of the gravitational red shift.
- Publication:
-
Nuovo Cimento Lettere
- Pub Date:
- February 1979
- Bibcode:
- 1979NCimL..24..212G
- Keywords:
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- Michelson Interferometers;
- Relativistic Effects;
- Spaceborne Experiments;
- Gravimetry;
- Red Shift;
- Spacecraft Instrumentation;
- Relativistic Astrophysics;
- Gravitation Theory;
- Background Radiation;
- Black Holes