Related papers: Space-based tests of gravity with laser ranging
Atom interferometry is now reaching sufficient precision to motivate laboratory tests of general relativity. We begin by explaining the non-relativistic calculation of the phase shift in an atom interferometer and deriving its range of…
The lunar surface is a compelling location for large, distributed optical facilities, with significant advantages over orbital facilities for high spatial resolution astrophysics. The serious development of mission concepts is timely…
The status of experimental tests of general relativity and of theoretical frameworks for analysing them are reviewed. Einstein's equivalence principle (EEP) is well supported by experiments such as the E\"otv\"os experiment, tests of…
We focus on the fact that light-pulse atom interferometers measure the atoms' acceleration with only three data points per drop. As a result, the measured effect of the gravity gradient is systematically larger than the true one, an error…
The measurement of the parametrized post-Newtonian parameter $\gamma_{\rm{PPN}}$ is a robust test of general relativity (GR). In some modified theories of gravity, $\gamma_{\rm{PPN}}$ may evolve with the redshift and deviate from one at…
The paper discusses the optimal conguration of one or more ring lasers to be used for measuring the general relativistic effects of the rotation of the earth, as manifested on the surface of the planet. The analysis is focused on devices…
Deep space laser ranging missions like ASTROD I (Single-Spacecraft Astrodynamical Space Test of Relativity using Optical Devices) and ASTROD, together with astrometry missions like GAIA and LATOR will be able to test relativistic gravity to…
Tests of gravity performed in the solar system show a good agreement with general relativity. The latter is however challenged by observations at larger, galactic and cosmic, scales which are presently cured by introducing "dark matter" or…
We review the status of tests of spacetime symmetries with gravity. Recent theoretical and experimental work has involved gravitational wave signals, precision solar-system tests, and sensitive laboratory tests searching for violations of…
Electron accelerations of the order of $10^{21} g$ obtained by laser fields open up the possibility of experimentally testing one of the cornerstones of general relativity, the weak equivalence principle, which states that the local effects…
General Relativity is today the best theory of gravity addressing a wide range of phenomena. Our understanding of physical laws, from cosmology to local scales, cannot be properly formulated without taking into account it. It is based on…
The high accuracy of modern space astrometry requires the use of General Relativity to model the propagation of stellar light through the gravitational field encountered from a source to a given observer inside the Solar System. In this…
If the fundamental constants of nature have a cosmic spatial variation, there will in general be extra forces with a preferred direction in space which violate the equivalence principle. We show that the millimeter-precision Apache Point…
This paper analyses the relativistic stellar aberration requirements for the Space Interferometry Mission (SIM). We address the issue of general relativistic deflection of light by the massive self-gravitating bodies. Specifically, we…
The gravity field maps of the satellite gravimetry missions GRACE (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment) and GRACE Follow-On are derived by means of precise orbit determination. The key observation is the biased inter-satellite range,…
Atomic clocks, masers, and other precision oscillators are likely to be placed on the International Space Station and other satellites in the future. These instruments will have the potential to measure Lorentz-violation coefficients, and…
Light has shown up an incredibe capability in precision measurement based on opto-mechanic interaction in high vacuum by isolating environment noises. However, there are still obstructions, such as displacement and mass estimation error,…
In this review we aim to describe the most stringent tests of the strong equivalence principle, the fundamental principle of General Relativity, using pulsar timing. For this purpose, we first construct the parametrized post-Newtonian and…
The tests of the constancy of the fundamental constants are tests of the local position invariance and thus of the equivalence principle. We summarize the various constraints that have been obtained and then describe the connection between…
Space-borne gravitational wave detections raise new questions for heliophysics: how the Sun-Terrestrial space environment affect gravitational wave detection, and to what extent? Space-borne gravitational wave detectors use laser…