Test of the Equivalence Principle Using a Rotating Torsion Balance

2007/12/04 by S. Schlamminger, K. -Y. Choi, T. A. Wagner +2 · 1 citation
Physics and Astronomy · #gr-qc

paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.100.041101

published as Phys.Rev.Lett.100:041101,2008 · 4 pages, 4 figures; accepted for publication in PRL

arxiv created 2007/12/04 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01

Abstract

We used a continuously rotating torsion balance instrument to measure the acceleration difference of beryllium and titanium test bodies towards sources at a variety of distances. Our result Delta a=(0.6+/-3.1)x10^-15 m/s² improves limits on equivalence-principle violations with ranges from 1 m to infinity by an order of magnitude. The Eoetvoes parameter is eta=(0.3+/-1.8)x10^-13. By analyzing our data for accelerations towards the center of the Milky Way we find equal attractions of Be and Ti towards galactic dark matter, yielding eta=(-4 +/- 7)x10^-5. Space-fixed differential accelerations in any direction are limited to less than 8.8x10^-15 m/s² with 95% confidence.

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