A quick test of the WEP enabled by a sounding rocket

DOI10.1088/0264-9381/28/9/094014MaRDI QIDQ3000843zbMATH OpenOpenAlexFDO

Authors Robert D. Reasenberg, Biju R. Patla, J. D. Phillips, Eugeniu M. Popescu, E. Rocco, Rajesh Thapa, E. Lorenzini

Publication date 31 May 2011

Published in Classical and Quantum Gravity (Search for Journal in Brave)

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/1011.3467

zbMATH Keywords

free fallWEPweak equivalence principle

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Equations of motion in general relativity and gravitational theory (83C10) Galactic and stellar dynamics (85A05) Relativistic gravitational theories other than Einstein's, including asymmetric field theories (83D05) Observational and experimental questions in relativity and gravitational theory (83B05)

Abstract: We describe SR-POEM, a Galilean test of the weak equivalence principle, which is to be conducted during the free fall portion of a sounding rocket flight. This test of a single pair of substances is aimed at a measurement uncertainty of sigma(eta) < 10-16 after averaging the results of eight separate drops, each of 40 s duration. The weak equivalence principle measurement is made with a set of four laser gauges that are expected to achieve 0.1 pm/sqrt{Hz}. We address the two sources of systematic error that are currently of greatest concern, magnetic force and electrostatic (patch effect) force on the test mass assemblies. The discovery of a violation (eta ot= 0) would have profound implications for physics, astrophysics and cosmology.

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