Abstract
We report the improved test of frame-dragging, an intriguing phenomenon predicted by Einstein’s General Relativity, obtained using 7 years of Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) data of the satellite LARES (ASI, 2012) and 26 years of SLR data of LAGEOS (NASA, 1976) and LAGEOS 2 (ASI and NASA, 1992). We used the static part and temporal variations of the Earth gravity field obtained by the space geodesy mission GRACE (NASA and DLR) and in particular the static Earth’s gravity field model GGM05S augmented by a model for the 7-day temporal variations of the lowest degree Earth spherical harmonics. We used the orbital estimator GEODYN (NASA). We measured frame-dragging to be equal to 0.9910 pm 0.02, where 1 is the theoretical prediction of General Relativity normalized to its frame-dragging value and pm 0.02 is the estimated systematic error due to modelling errors in the orbital perturbations, mainly due to the errors in the Earth’s gravity field determination. Therefore, our measurement confirms the prediction of General Relativity for frame-dragging with a few percent uncertainty.
Highlights
LARES (LAser RElativity Satellite) [9] is a laser-ranged satellite of ASI, the Italian Space Agency, dedicated to test General Relativity and fundamental physics, and to measurements of space geodesy and geodynamics
Among the tests of General Relativity, the main objective of LARES is a measurement of dragging of inertial frames, or frame-dragging, with an accuracy of a few percent
Frame-dragging [12] is an intriguing phenomenon of General Relativity: in Einstein’s gravitational theory the inertial frames, which can only be defined locally, have no fixed direction with respect to the distant stars but are instead dragged by the currents of mass-energy such as the rotation of a body, e.g., the rotation of the Earth For a detailed description of such intriguing phenomenon and
Summary
LARES (LAser RElativity Satellite) [9] is a laser-ranged satellite of ASI, the Italian Space Agency, dedicated to test General Relativity and fundamental physics, and to measurements of space geodesy and geodynamics. Where δ Ωare the residuals (observed minus calculated) of the nodal rates of LAGEOS, LAGEOS 2 and LARES, determined with GEODYN using their SLR data, the GRACE gravity field model GGM05S [35] together with a model of the time variation, and other up to date orbital perturbations, including tides (GOT4.10 tidal model [38]) and nongravitational orbital perturbations effects such as solar radiation pressure [9,25].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
