APSIS - an Artificial Planetary System in Space to probe extra-dimensional gravity and MOND
General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
2008-11-26 v4 Astrophysics
High Energy Physics - Phenomenology
Space Physics
Abstract
A proposal is made to test Newton's inverse-square law using the perihelion shift of test masses (planets) in free fall within a spacecraft located at the Earth-Sun L2 point. Such an Artificial Planetary System In Space (APSIS) will operate in a drag-free environment with controlled experimental conditions and minimal interference from terrestrial sources of contamination. We demonstrate that such a space experiment can probe the presence of a "hidden" fifth dimension on the scale of a micron, if the perihelion shift of a "planet" can be measured to sub-arc-second accuracy. Some suggestions for spacecraft design are made.
Cite
@article{arxiv.gr-qc/0606063,
title = {APSIS - an Artificial Planetary System in Space to probe extra-dimensional gravity and MOND},
author = {Varun Sahni and Yuri Shtanov},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:gr-qc/0606063},
year = {2008}
}
Comments
17 pages, revtex, references added. To appear in Special issue of IJMPD