Probing the Nature of Gravity

by Everitt, C. W. F.; Huber, M. C. E.; Kallenbach, R.; Schafer, G.; Schutz, Bernard F.

• ISBN13: 9781441913616
• ISBN10: 1441913610
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2009-10-01
• Publisher: Springer Nature

Summary

This set of review articles is the result of an international Workshop on Gravity focused on the various attempts to check the role of General Relativity in Gravity by measurements in space. The data on Gravitomagnetism are central in this discussion, in particular the results of the Gravity Probe B ‘null-experiment’, which has measured the Lense-Thirring effect in orbit around the Earth. In addition, the data derived from observations of astrophysical systems as well as laser ranging of Earth-orbiting satellites play an important role. Tests of possible violations of Newton’s inverse-square law and the equivalence principle are discussed. The book further addresses the question of constancy of the fundamental physical quantities and constraints on gravitational theory from cosmological observations, quantum gravity, and Grand Unified Theory. In this context, emphasis is placed on the assessment of uncertainty: to what extent are high-accuracy measurements in space possible?This volume is aimed at researchers and graduate students working on gravitational theory, general relativity, cosmology and string theory.