124 research outputs found
Fiber-Optic-Gyroscope Measurements Close to Rotating Liquid Helium
We previously reported anomalous fiber-optic gyroscope signals observed above
rotating rings at temperatures close to liquid helium. Our results suggested
that the liquid helium itself may be the source of our observed phenomenon. We
constructed a new cryostat experiment that allows rotating a large quantity of
liquid helium together with a superconducting niobium tube. The facility is
built in such a way that our gyroscope can be placed directly in the center of
rotation along the axis; however, the cryostat is built around the gyroscope to
allow measuring without interference of helium liquid or gas. An anomalous
signal was found of similar value compared to our previous measurements with a
changed sign. As this measurement was done at a different location (center
position) with respect to our old setup (top position), first hints for a
possible field distribution of this phenomenon can be made. However, due to
lower angular velocities used in this new setup so far, our measurement
resolution was close to three times the resolution of our gyroscope and hence
our data represent work in progress.Comment: To appear in the SPESIF-2010 conference proceedings published by AI
Extended Analysis of Gravitomagnetic Fields in Rotating Superconductors and Superfluids
Applying the Ginzburg-Landau theory including frame dragging effects to the
case of a rotating superconductor, we were able to express the absolute value
of the gravitomagnetic field involved to explain the Cooper pair mass anomaly
previously reported by Tate. Although our analysis predicts large
gravitomagnetic fields originated by superconductive gyroscopes, those should
not affect the measurement of the Earth gravitomagnetic field by the Gravity
Probe-B satellite. However, the hypothesis might be well suited to explain a
mechanical momentum exchange phenomena reported for superfluid helium. As a
possible explanation for those abnormally large gravitomagnetic fields in
quantum materials, the reduced speed of light (and gravity) that was found in
the case of Bose-Einstein condensates is analysed
Can the Tajmar effect be explained using a modification of inertia?
The Tajmar effect is an unexplained acceleration observed by accelerometers
and laser gyroscopes close to rotating supercooled rings. The observed ratio
between the gyroscope and ring accelerations was 3+/-1.2x10^-8. Here, a new
model for inertia which has been tested quite successfully on the Pioneer and
flyby anomalies is applied to this problem. The model assumes that the inertia
of the gyroscope is caused by Unruh radiation that appears as the ring and the
fixed stars accelerate relative to it, and that this radiation is subject to a
Hubble-scale Casimir effect. The model predicts that the sudden acceleration of
the nearby ring causes a slight increase in the inertial mass of the gyroscope,
and, to conserve momentum in the reference frame of the spinning Earth, the
gyroscope rotates clockwise with an acceleration ratio of 1.8+/-0.25x10^-8 in
agreement with the observed ratio. However, this model does not explain the
parity violation seen in some of the gyroscope data. To test these ideas the
Tajmar experiment (setup B) could be exactly reproduced in the southern
hemisphere, since the model predicts that the anomalous acceleration should
then be anticlockwise.Comment: 9 pages, 1 figure. Accepted by EPL on the 4th December, 200
- …