Gyros, Clocks, Interferometers...: Testing Relativistic Graviy in Space

✍ Scribed by Kenneth Nordtvedt (auth.), Claus Lämmerzahl, C. W. Francis Everitt, Friedrich W. Hehl (eds.)

• Publisher: Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
• Year: 2001
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 506
• Series: Lecture Notes in Physics 562
• Edition: 1
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Many new tests of gravity and, in particular, of Einstein's general relativity theory will be carried out in the near future: The Lense--Thirring effect and the equivalence principle will be tested in space; moreover, gravitational waves will be detected, and new atomic interferometers and clocks will be built for measurements in gravitational and inertial fields. New high-precision devices have made these experiments feasible. They will contribute to a better understanding of gravitational physics. Both experimental developments and the theoretical concepts are collected in this volume. Exhaustive reviews give an overall insight into the subject of experimental gravitation.

✦ Table of Contents

An Overview of Solar System Gravitational Physics: The Theory—Experiment Interface....Pages 3-14
Determination of the Gravitational Constant....Pages 15-28
The Lense—Thirring Effect: From the Basic Notions to the Observed Effects....Pages 31-51
Gravity Probe B: Countdown to Launch....Pages 52-82
Gravitomagnetism and the Clock Effect....Pages 83-108
Spinning Relativistic Particles in External Fields....Pages 109-128
The GEO 600 Gravitational Wave Detector Status, Research, Development....Pages 131-140
Gravitational Radiation Theory and Light Propagation....Pages 141-166
Relic Gravitational Waves and Their Detection....Pages 167-192
Principles of Equivalence: Their Role in Gravitation Physics and Experiments That Test Them....Pages 195-212
STEP: A Status Report....Pages 213-247
High Sensitive DC SQUID Based Position Detectors for Application in Gravitational Experiments at the Drop Tower Bremen....Pages 248-272
Space Accelerometers: Present Status....Pages 273-291
Searching for Extra Dimensions and New String-Inspired Forces in the Casimir Regime....Pages 292-309
Relativistic Effects in the Motion of the Moon....Pages 310-316
Lunar Laser Ranging — A Comprehensive Probe of the Post-Newtonian Long Range Interaction....Pages 317-329
Testing Relativistic Gravityand Measuring Solar System Parameters via Optical Space Missions....Pages 330-343
Clocks for Length and Time Measurement....Pages 347-368
SpaceTime Mission: Clock Test of Relativityat Four Solar Radii....Pages 369-380
Pulsar Timing — Strong Gravity Clock Experiments....Pages 381-399
Relativistic Phase Shifts for Dirac Particles Interacting with Weak Gravitational Fields in Matter—Wave Interferometers....Pages 403-438
Spin in Gravity....Pages 439-456
Spin in Special and General Relativity....Pages 457-462
Testing the Dirac Equation....Pages 463-476
How Does the Electromagnetic Field Couple to Gravity, in Particular to Metric, Nonmetricity, Torsion, and Curvature?....Pages 479-504

✦ Subjects

Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology; Measurement Science, Instrumentation