Search for evidence of a preferred reference frame.
Abstract
Some gravitation theories, in contradiction to general relativity, allow the existence of a universal preferred reference frame. Also allowed in some theories can be a galaxy-induced anisotropy of the gravitation constant. The parametrized post-Newtonian theory predicts that in these cases, there will be anomalous earth-tide amplitudes at specific frequencies. An 18-month earth-tide record obtained with the superconducting gravimeter has been examined for such anomalies. The data allow for the existence of such effects but cannot prove it because of uncertainties concerning geophysical perturbations of the tides. However, an upper limit to the preferred frame parameter of the parametrized post-Newtonian formalism is established at 0.002. The results also set a less rigorous limit on the anisotropy parameter, of the order of 0.001.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- September 1976
- DOI:
- 10.1086/154675
- Bibcode:
- 1976ApJ...208..881W
- Keywords:
-
- Earth Tides;
- Gravitation Theory;
- Gravitational Effects;
- Reference Systems;
- Relativity;
- Anisotropy;
- Atmospheric Pressure;
- Atmospheric Tides;
- Gravitational Constant;
- Newton Theory;
- Astrophysics