100,260 research outputs found
Space-based tests of gravity with laser ranging
Existing capabilities in laser ranging, optical interferometry and metrology,
in combination with precision frequency standards, atom-based quantum sensors,
and drag-free technologies, are critical for the space-based tests of
fundamental physics; as a result, of the recent progress in these disciplines,
the entire area is poised for major advances. Thus, accurate ranging to the
Moon and Mars will provide significant improvements in several gravity tests,
namely the equivalence principle, geodetic precession, PPN parameters
and , and possible variation of the gravitational constant . Other
tests will become possible with development of an optical architecture that
would allow proceeding from meter to centimeter to millimeter range accuracies
on interplanetary distances. Motivated by anticipated accuracy gains, we
discuss the recent renaissance in lunar laser ranging and consider future
relativistic gravity experiments with precision laser ranging over
interplanetary distances.Comment: 14 pages, 2 figures, 1 table. To appear in the proceedings of the
International Workshop "From Quantum to Cosmos: Fundamental Physics Research
in Space", 21-24 May 2006, Warrenton, Virginia, USA
http://physics.jpl.nasa.gov/quantum-to-cosmos
Measurement of time differences between luminous events Patent
Mechanism for measuring nanosecond time differences between luminous events using streak camer
Gravitational Acceleration of Spinning Bodies From Lunar Laser Ranging Measurements
The Sun's relativistic gravitational gradient accelerations of Earth and
Moon, dependent on the motions of the latter bodies, act upon the system's
internal angular momentum. This spin-orbit force (which plays a part in
determining the gravity wave signal templates for astrophysical sources)
slightly accelerates the Earth-Moon system as a whole, but it more robustly
perturbs that system's internal dynamics with a 5 cm, synodically oscillating
range contribution which is presently measured to 4 mm precision by more than
three decades of lunar laser ranging.Comment: 10 pages, PCTex32.v3.
SDSS J142625.71+575218.3: the First Pulsating White Dwarf With A Large Detectable Magnetic Field
We report the discovery of a strong magnetic field in the unique pulsating carbon- atmosphere white dwarf SDSS J142625.71 + 575218.3. From spectra gathered at the MMT and Keck telescopes, we infer a surface field of B(s) similar or equal to 1.2 MG, based on obvious Zeeman components seen in several carbon lines. We also detect the presence of a Zeeman- splitted He I lambda 4471 line, which is an indicator of the presence of a nonnegligible amount of helium in the atmosphere of this "hot DQ" star. This is important for understanding its pulsations, as nonadabatic theory reveals that some helium must be present in the envelope mixture for pulsation modes to be excited in the range of effective temperature where the target star is found. Out of nearly 200 pulsating white dwarfs known today, this is the first example of a star with a large detectable magnetic field. We suggest that SDSS J142625.71 + 575218.3 is the white dwarf equivalent of a rapidly oscillating Ap star.NSERCNSF AST 03-07321Reardon FoundationAstronom
Two-micron spectrophotometry of the galaxy NGC 253
A very strong Brackett-gamma hydrogen emission line, and the 2.3 micron CO stellar absorption feature were measured in NGC 253. The presence and strength of the CO feature indicates that late type giant stars produce most of the 2.2 micron continuum emission, while the rate of ionization implied by strength of the Brackett-gamma line indicates that much, perhaps all, of the luminosity detected at far infrared wavelengths originates from a large number of OB stars. As compared to the corresponding region of the Galaxy, the number of massive young stars in the central 200 pc of NGC 253 is thirty times greater, but the total mass of stars is roughly the same
Experimental Design for the LATOR Mission
This paper discusses experimental design for the Laser Astrometric Test Of
Relativity (LATOR) mission. LATOR is designed to reach unprecedented accuracy
of 1 part in 10^8 in measuring the curvature of the solar gravitational field
as given by the value of the key Eddington post-Newtonian parameter \gamma.
This mission will demonstrate the accuracy needed to measure effects of the
next post-Newtonian order (~G^2) of light deflection resulting from gravity's
intrinsic non-linearity. LATOR will provide the first precise measurement of
the solar quadrupole moment parameter, J2, and will improve determination of a
variety of relativistic effects including Lense-Thirring precession. The
mission will benefit from the recent progress in the optical communication
technologies -- the immediate and natural step above the standard radio-metric
techniques. The key element of LATOR is a geometric redundancy provided by the
laser ranging and long-baseline optical interferometry. We discuss the mission
and optical designs, as well as the expected performance of this proposed
mission. LATOR will lead to very robust advances in the tests of Fundamental
physics: this mission could discover a violation or extension of general
relativity, or reveal the presence of an additional long range interaction in
the physical law. There are no analogs to the LATOR experiment; it is unique
and is a natural culmination of solar system gravity experiments.Comment: 16 pages, 17 figures, invited talk given at ``The 2004 NASA/JPL
Workshop on Physics for Planetary Exploration.'' April 20-22, 2004, Solvang,
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