Testing the Equivalence Principle

Special Lectures on Experimental Gravity

Universality of free fall (Galileo)

Aristoteles view: the manner in which a body falls, does depend on its weight (at least plausible, if one does not abstract from air resistance etc.)

Galileos experiments on an inclined plane: the speed of a body is independent of its weight; all bodies, regardless of their constitution, fall with the same acceleration

This behaviour is fairly unique to gravitation; usually: the larger the acting force, the larger the acceleration.

electric eld vs. gravitational eld

electric eld: gravitational eld:

F=qE Q |E| 2 r |a| q

F=mG M |G| 2 r |a| = F (m) , a = const.

For other forces, mass has only one function; as the measure of inertia. For gravity, it also fullls a second function; as source of acceleration.

Two different denitions of mass

inertial mass: you dont need gravity for this.. measures the resistance against changes of current state of motion can be dened by using collision experiments using Newtons law:
m1 /m2 = v2 /v1

Two different denitions of mass (contd)

gravitational mass: gravity leads to acceleration, too... the force of gravity on a body is proportional to its gravitational mass:
Mm F = G 2 er r

Weak Equivalence Principle

these two different denitions of mass (i.e. inertial, gravitational) are equivalent; bodies of different constitution feel the same acceleration. in classical physics, it is not entirely clear why this is the case. Early experiments were already performed by Newton, Bessel; much more accurate ones between 1906-1909 by Etvs in GR, gravity is explained geometrically: matter deforms space and time and all bodies are following the straightest lines in this distorted geometry ! no need for different mass-denitions like Newton: (a) force acting on a body depends on its gravitational mass (b) but the reaction on this force depends on the bodys inertial mass in GR, all bodies feel the same acceleration because their motion is determined by the very same space-time around them

The Etvs-experiment

measurement using torsion balance two test-masses of different composition with equal weight -> equal gravitational mass a net torque will show up if the equivalence principle is violated in term of the Etvs-parameter
|a1 a2 | = 2.0 109 |a1 + a2 |

The Etvs-experiment (contd)

Other experiments

Equivalence principle in Einsteins theory

The gravitational eld has only a relative existence... Because for an observer freely falling from the roof of a house - at least in his immediate surroundings - there exists no gravitational eld. (Einstein)

Because of the equivalence between gravitational and inertial mass, a freely falling observer wont feel his own weight, nor any effect of gravity gravity can be (nearly) transformed away (at least locally) locally, a gravitational eld and a uniform accelerated frame of reference are equivalent in any and every local Lorentz frame, anywhere and anytime in the universe, all the (nongravitational) laws of physics must take on their familiar specialrelativistic forms

Local Lorentz frame

Applications of the Equivalence Principle I

The deection of light in a gravitational eld:

freely falling

accelerated observer

inside view: light travels with constant speed along straight lines; laser beam leaves at same height as it enters the elevator outside view: both observers have to agree that the light will eventually leave the elevator. Consequently, the light ray cannot remain horizontally, it has to bend -> (equivalence principle) light is deected in the presence of gravity

Applications of the Equivalence Principle II

Gravitational redshift: lightsource at the bottom of the elevator emits ashes of light with frequency 0 inside: receiver at the top of the elevator measures the very same frequency outside: will measure a different frequency because the elevator moves away from the accelerated observer. After a time t the elevator has a velocity of v = g t = g L/c , with elevator height L using Dopplers equation: = 0
v 1 c = 0 gL 1 2 c

equivalence principle (locally, uniform acceleration cannot be distinguished from gravitational eld) -> frequency of light is shifted in the presence of gravity

Applications of the Equivalence Principle III

Take perfect uid energy-momentum tensor in at space-time

T = ( + p)u u + p
with

u = (1, v i ) , |v i | T 00 T 0j T jk = =

1 and p/c2
Then

= T j 0 = ( + p)u0 uj v j

( + p)u0 u0 p

( + p)uj uk + p jk v j v k + p ik

and T , = T = 0 has the components

0j T 00 + T ,0 ,j = / t + (v) = 0 jk j j k k j + T = ( v ) / t + ( v v ) / x + p/ x T j0 ,0 ,k

or

v/ t + (v )v = p/

Applications of the Equivalence Principle III (contd)

This special relativistic rule, i.e. T , = 0 holds also true in presence of gravitation; it is valid in a freely falling frame of reference In a freely falling system, the connection coefcients (Christoffel-symbols) vanish, i.e. = 0 at the origin of the freely falling system In such a system at that point it is T ; = 0 Laws of physics are independent of the coordinate system, so in curved spacetime we have also T ; = 0

Experiments I

Experiments I (contd)
possible noise sources: Disturbances due to variation in torques caused by gravitational eld gradients. Variable torque from a varying magnetic eld acting upon magnetic contaminants. Variable electrostatic forces. Disturbances due to gross gas pressure effects. Brownian motion effects. Disturbances due to the rotation detection system. Extraction of signal from noise. Temperature variation effects. Ground vibration disturbances.

Experiments II
testing the equivalence principle on large scales: Lunar Laser Ranging a difference in inertial and gravitational mass of Earth and Moon will lead to corrections in their orbital motion

Experiments III
Satellite Test of the Equivalence Principle (STEP) joint NASA/ESA project

launch time: around 2013 mission duration: 6 months

Experiments IV
MICRO-Satellite a tranee Compensee pour l'Observation du Principe d'Equivalence (MICROSCOPE)