Search for the Effects of Inhomogenous Electric Fields on Gravitation
Abstract
The effect of inhomogenous electric fields on the weight of test masses is being investigated. Inhomogenous field is produced by applying dc bias between a horizontal flat electrode and the tip of a conical bottom electrode of an electrostatic capacitor. The equipotentials and the electric field distribution has been numerically calculated using “MATLAB” software. The test masses are gold-coated metal spheres, electrically isolated and suspended between the electrodes of the capacitor. The test masses are spheres of equal sizes but different density hence different masses. The sample mass and the capacitor are placed inside a measurement cell filled with high purity nitrogen gas. The whole apparatus is setup in an underground chamber below a large climate controlled laboratory. With the electric field on, off and reversed the weight of the masses is measured by an analytical balance. Quantitative data, such as, baseline weight and the response to the electric field will be presented. Initial analyses favor a direct correlation between the sample masses and the differential signals. Such a scaling of the signal with mass may be indicative of a gravitational signature.
- Publication:
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APS April Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- April 2002
- Bibcode:
- 2002APS..APRS12008Y