Lasers, Clocks and Drag-Free Control: Exploration of Relativistic Gravity in Space (Astrophysics and Space Science Library (349))

Over the next decade the gravitational physics community will benefit from dramatic improvements in many technologies critical to testing gravity. Highly accurate deep space navigation, interplanetary laser communication, interferometry and metrology, high precision frequency standards, precise pointing and attitude control, together with drag-free technologies, will revolutionize the field of experimental gravitational physics. The centennial of the general theory of relativity in 2015 will motivate a significant number of experiments designed to test this theory with unprecedented accuracy. The purpose of the contributions in this book, written by international experts, is to explore the possibilities for the next 20 years for conducting gravitational experiments in space that would utilize both entirely new and highly improved existing capabilities. Contents......Page 8 Part I: Surveys......Page 21 Fundamental Physics, Space, Missions and Technologies......Page 23 General Theory of Relativity: Will It Survive the Next Decade?......Page 47 Is the Physics Within the Solar System Really Understood?......Page 95 Part II: Theory......Page 123 Propagation of Light in the Gravitational Field of Binary Systems to Quadratic Order in Newton's Gravitational Constant......Page 125 On the Radar Method in General-Relativistic Spacetimes......Page 151 A Universal Tool for Determining the Time Delay and the Frequency Shift of Light: Synge's World Function......Page 173 Unified Formula for Comparison of Clock Rates and Its Applications......Page 201 Gravity Tests and the Pioneer Anomaly......Page 213 Laser Ranging Delay in the Bimetric Theory of Gravity......Page 229 Part III: Technologies......Page 237 Measurement of the Shapiro Time Delay Between Drag-Free Spacecraft......Page 239 Laser Transponders for High-Accuracy Interplanetary Laser Ranging and Time Transfer......Page 251 Unequal-Arm Interferometry and Ranging in Space......Page 263 Technology for Precision Gravity Measurements......Page 283 Clocks and Accelerometers for Space Tests of Fundamental Physics......Page 305 Atom Interferometric Inertial Sensors for Space Applications......Page 317 Drag-Free Satellite Control......Page 361 Drag-Free Control Design with Cubic Test Masses......Page 381 Solar Sail Propulsion: An Enabling Technology for Fundamental Physics Missions......Page 399 Part IV: Missions and Projects......Page 417 Testing Relativity with Space Astrometry Missions......Page 419 LISA, the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna, Requires the Ultimate in Lasers, Clocks, and Drag-Free Control......Page 447 Lunar Laser Ranging Contributions to Relativity and Geodesy......Page 477 Science, Technology, and Mission Design for the Laser Astrometric Test of Relativity......Page 493 LATOR's Measured Science Parameters and Mission Configuration......Page 565 OPTIS: High-Precision Tests of Special and General Relativity in Space......Page 573 Testing Relativistic Gravity to One Part per Billion......Page 591 Exploring the Pioneer Anomaly: Concept Considerations for a Deep-Space Gravity Probe Based on Laser-Controlled Free-Flying Reference Masses......Page 597 Pioneer Anomaly: What Can We Learn from LISA?......Page 625 B......Page 651 D......Page 652 G......Page 653 J......Page 654 M......Page 655 O......Page 656 R......Page 657 S......Page 658 Y......Page 659

Written by international experts, this book explores the possibilities for the next 20 years in conducting gravitational experiments in space that would make the most of the new and much-improved existing capabilities. They start from the premise that over the next decade the gravitational physics community will benefit from dramatic improvements in many technologies critical to the tests of gravity. This volume contains a comprehensive presentation of the theory, technology, missions and projects on relativistic gravity in space.