English

Satellite Laser-Ranging as a Probe of Fundamental Physics

General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology 2019-07-02 v1

Abstract

Satellite laser-ranging is successfully used in space geodesy, geodynamics and Earth sciences; and to test fundamental physics and specific features of General Relativity. We present a confirmation to approximately one part in a billion of the fundamental weak equivalence principle (uniqueness of free fall) in the Earth's gravitational field, obtained with three laser-ranged satellites, at previously untested range and with previously untested materials. The weak equivalence principle is at the foundation of General Relativity and of most gravitational theories.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1907.00395,
  title  = {Satellite Laser-Ranging as a Probe of Fundamental Physics},
  author = {Ignazio Ciufolini and Richard Matzner and Antonio Paolozzi and Erricos C. Pavlis and Giampiero Sindoni and John Ries and Vahe Gurzadyan and Rolf Koenig},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1907.00395},
  year   = {2019}
}

Comments

24 pages, 3 figures