Improved Test of the Equivalence Principle for Gravitational Self-Energy
Abstract
The lunar-ranging test of the equivalence principle for gravitational self-energy is ambiguous. Although the Earth has more gravitational self-energy than the Moon, its sizable Fe/Ni core also gives it a different composition than the Moon. We removed this ambiguity by comparing, in effect, the accelerations of ``miniature'' earths and moons toward the Sun. Our composition-dependent Earth-Moon acceleration, ΔaCD/as = \(+0.1+/-2.7+/-1.7\)×10-13, and lunar-ranging data provide an unambiguous test at the 1.3×10-3 level.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review Letters
- Pub Date:
- November 1999
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevLett.83.3585
- Bibcode:
- 1999PhRvL..83.3585B