Abstract
The pericenter shift of a binary system represents a suitable observable to test for possible deviations from the Newtonian inverse-square law in favor of new weak interactions between macroscopic objects. We analyzed 13 years of tracking data of the LAGEOS satellites with GEODYN II software but with no models for general relativity. From the fit of LAGEOS II pericenter residuals we have been able to obtain a 99.8% agreement with the predictions of Einstein’s theory. This result may be considered as a 99.8% measurement in the field of the Earth of the combination of the and parameters of general relativity, and it may be used to constrain possible deviations from the inverse-square law in favor of new weak interactions parametrized by a Yukawa-like potential with strength and range . We obtained , a huge improvement at a range of about 1 Earth radius.
- Received 18 July 2010
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.105.231103
© 2010 The American Physical Society
Viewpoint
Via satellite
Published 29 November 2010
More than a decade’s worth of data collected from the LAGEOS II satellite is offering a new way to test general relativity.
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