Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
SpringerLink
Log in

The Confrontation Between General Relativity and Experiment

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
General Relativity and John Archibald Wheeler

Part of the book series: Astrophysics and Space Science Library ((ASSL,volume 367))

Abstract

We review the experimental evidence for Einstein’s special and general relativity. A variety of high precision null experiments verify the weak equivalence principle and local Lorentz invariance, while gravitational redshift and other clock experiments support local position invariance. Together these results confirm the Einstein Equivalence Principle which underlies the concept that gravitation is synonymous with spacetime geometry, and must be described by a metric theory. Solar system experiments that test the weak-field, post-Newtonian limit of metric theories strongly favor general relativity. The Binary Pulsar provides tests of gravitational-wave damping and of strong-field general relativity. Recently discovered binary pulsar systems may provide additional tests. Ongoing and future experiments, such as the Gravity Probe B Gyroscope Experiment, satellite tests of the Equivalence principle, and tests of gravity at short distance to look for extra spatial dimensions could constrain extensions of general relativity. Laser interferometric gravitational-wave observatories on Earth and in space may provide new tests of gravitational theory via detailed measurements of the properties of gravitational waves. Future efforts using X-ray, infrared, gamma-ray and gravitational-wave astronomy may one day achieve one of John Wheeler’s visions: to test general relativity in the strong-field regime near black holes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. C. M. Will, Theory and Experiment in Gravitational Physics, (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1993).

    Book  MATH  Google Scholar 

  2. C. M. Will, Living Rev. Relativ. 9, 3 (2006) [Online article]: cited on 1 June 2007, www.livingreviews.org/lrr-2001-4.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. I. H. Stairs Living Rev. Relativ. 6, 5 (2003) [On-line article] Cited on 1 June 2007, www.livingreviews.org/lrr-2003-5.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. D. Mattingly, Living Rev. Relativ. 8, 5 (2005) [On-line article] Cited on 1 June 2007, www.livingreviews.org/lrr-2005-5.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. R. V. Eötvös, V. Pekár and E. Fekete, Ann. d. Physik 68, 11 (1922).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. P. G. Roll, R. Krotkov and R. H. Dicke, Ann. Phys. (N.Y.) 26, 442 (1964).

    Article  MathSciNet  ADS  MATH  Google Scholar 

  7. V. B. Braginsky and V. I. Panov, Sov. Phys. JETP 34, 463 (1972).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. S. Baessler, B. R. Heckel, E. G. Adelberger, J. H. Gundlach, U. Schmidt and H. E. Swanson, Phys. Rev. Lett. 83, 3585 (1999).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  9. E. G. Adelberger, Class. Quantum Gravit. 18, 2397 (2001).

    Article  ADS  MATH  Google Scholar 

  10. J. G. Williams, X. X. Newhall and J. O. Dickey, Phys. Rev. D 53, 6730 (1996).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  11. J. G. Williams, S. Turyshev and T. W. Murphy, Int. J. Mod. Phys. D 13, 567 (2004).

    Article  ADS  MATH  Google Scholar 

  12. T. M. Niebauer, M. P. McHugh, and J. E. Faller, Phys. Rev. Lett. 59, 609 (1987).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. J. C. Long, H. W. Chan and J. C. Price, Nucl. Phys. B 539, 23 (1999).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  14. C. D. Hoyle, U. Schmidt, B. R. Heckel, E. G. Adelberger, J. H. Gundlach, D. J. Kapner and H.E.Swanson, Phys. Rev. Lett. 86, 1418 (2001).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  15. C. D. Hoyle, D. J. Kapner, B. R. Heckel, E. G. Adelberger, J. H. Gundlach, U. Schmidt, and H.E.Swanson, Phys. Rev. D 70, 042004 (2004).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  16. J. Chiaverini, S. J. Smullin, A. A. Geraci, D. M. Weld, A. Kapitulnik, Phys. Rev. Lett. 90, 151101 (2003).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  17. J. C. Long, H. W. Chan, A. B. Churnside, E. A. Gulbis, M. C. M. Varney and J. C. Price, Nature 421, 922 (2003).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  18. A. A. Michelson and E. W. Morley, Am. J. Sci. 134, 333 (1887).

    Google Scholar 

  19. R. S. Shankland, S. W. McCuskey, F. C. Leone and G. Kuerti, Rev. Mod. Phys. 27, 167 (1955).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  20. T. S. Jaseja, A. Javan, J. Murray and C. H. Townes, Phys. Rev. 133, A1221 (1964).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  21. A. Brillet and J. L. Hall, Phys. Rev. Lett. 42, 549 (1979).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  22. H. E. Ives and G. R. Stilwell, J. Opt. Soc. Am. 28, 215 (1938).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  23. B. Rossi and D. B. Hall, Phys. Rev. 59, 223 (1941).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  24. F. J. M. Farley, J. Bailey, R. C. A. Brown, M. Giesch, H. Jöstlein, S. van der Meer, E. Picasso and M. Tannenbaum, Nuovo Cimento 45, 281 (1966).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  25. K. Brecher, Phys. Rev. Lett. 39, 1051 (1977).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  26. T. Alväger, F. J. M. Farley, J. Kjellman and I. Wallin, Phys. Lett. 12, 260 (1977).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  27. D. C. Champeney, G. R. Isaak and A. M. Khan, Phys. Lett. 7, 241 (1963).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  28. E. Riis, L.-U. A. Anderson, N. Bjerre, O. Poulson, S. A. Lee and J. L. Hall, Phys. Rev. Lett. 60, 81 (1988); ibid 62, 842 (1989).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  29. T. P. Krisher, L. Maleki, G. F. Lutes, L. E. Primas, R. T. Logan, J. D. Anderson and C. M. Will, Phys. Rev. D 42, 731 (1990).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  30. M. P. Haugan and C. M. Will, Phys. Today 40, 69 (May) (1987).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  31. M. D. Gabriel and M. P. Haugan, Phys. Rev. D 41, 2943 (1990).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  32. A. P. Lightman and D. L. Lee, Phys. Rev. D 8, 364 (1973).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  33. D. Colladay and V. A. KosteleckĂ˝, Phys. Rev. D 55, 6760 (1997).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  34. D. Colladay and V. A. KosteleckĂ˝, Phys. Rev. D 58, 116002 (1998).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  35. V. A. KosteleckĂ˝ and M. Mewes, Phys. Rev. D 66, 056005 (2002).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  36. V. W. Hughes, H. G. Robinson and V. Beltran-Lopez, Phys. Rev. Lett. 4, 342 (1960).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  37. R. W. P. Drever, Phil. Mag. 6, 683 (1961).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  38. J. D. Prestage, J. J. Bollinger, W. M. Itano and D. J. Wineland, Phys. Rev. Lett. 54, 2387 (1985).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  39. S. K. Lamoreaux, J. P. Jacobs, B. R. Heckel, F. J. Raab and E. N. Fortson, Phys. Rev. Lett. 57, 3125 (1986).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  40. T. E. Chupp, R. J. Hoare, R. A. Loveman, E. R. Oteiza, J. M. Richardson, M. E. Wagshul and A. K. Thompson, Phys. Rev. Lett. 63, 1541 (1989).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  41. T. Jacobson, S. Liberati, and D. Mattingly, Phys. Rev. D 67, 124011 (2003).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  42. R. F. C. Vessot, M. W. Levine, E. M. Mattison, E. L. Blomberg, T. E. Hoffman, G. U. Nystrom, B. F. Farrell, R. Decher, P. B. Eby, C. R. Baugher, J. W. Watts, D. L. Teuber and F. O. Wills, Phys. Rev. Lett. 45, 2081 (1980).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  43. J.P. Turneaure, C.M. Will, B.F. Farrell, E.M. Mattison, and R.F.C Vessot, Phys. Rev. D 27, 1705 (1983).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  44. A. Godone, C. Novero, P. Tavella, and K. Rahimullah, Phys. Rev. Lett. 71, 2364 (1993).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  45. J. D. Prestage, R. L. Tjoelker, and L. Maleki, Phys. Rev. Lett. 74, 3511 (1995).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  46. A. Bauch and S. Weyers, Phys. Rev. D 65, 081101 (2002).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  47. H. Marion, F. Pereira Dos Santos, M. Abgrall, S. Zhang, Y. Sortais, S. Bize, I. Maksimovic, D.Calonico, J. GrĂĽnert, C. Mandache, P. Lemonde, G. Santarelli, Ph. Laurent, A. Clairon and C. Salomon, Phys. Rev. Lett. 90, 150801 (2003).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  48. S. Bize, S. A. Diddams, U. Tanaka, C. E. Tanner, W. H. Oskay, R. E. Drullinger, T. E. Parker, T. P. Heavner, S. R. Jefferts, L. Hollberg, W. M. Itano, and J. C. Bergquist, Phys. Rev. Lett. 90, 150802 (2003).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  49. M. Fischer, N. Kolachevsky, M. Zimmermann, R. Holzwarth, Th. Udem, T. W. Hansch, M.Abgrall, J. Grunert, I. Maksimovic, S. Bize, H. Marion, F. PereiraDos Santos, P. Lemonde, G. Santarelli, P. Laurent, A. Clairon, C. Salomon, M. Haas, U. D. Jentschura, and C. H. Keitel, Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 230802 (2004).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  50. E. Peik, B. Lipphardt, H. Schnatz, T. Schneider, Chr. Tamm, S. G. Karshenboim, Phys. Rev. Lett. 93, 170801 (2004).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  51. T. Damour and F. Dyson, Nucl. Phys. B 480, 37 (1996).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  52. C. J. A. P. Martins, editor, The Cosmology of Extra Dimensions and Varying Fundamental Constants (Kluwer Academic Publishers, The Netherlands, 2003); also published in Astrophys. Space Sci. 283, 439 (2003).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  53. J.-P. Uzan, Rev. Mod. Phys. 75, 403 (2003).

    Article  MathSciNet  ADS  MATH  Google Scholar 

  54. B. Bertotti, L. Iess and P. Tortora, Nature 425, 374 (2003).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  55. S. S. Shapiro, J. L. Davis, D. E. Lebach, and J. S. Gregory, Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 121101 (2004).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  56. GAIA: for information about the project, see http://astro.estec.esa.nl/GAIA/.

  57. S. G. Turyshev, M. Shao, and K. Nordtvedt, Jr., Class. Quantum Gravit. 21, 2773 (2004).

    Article  ADS  MATH  Google Scholar 

  58. A. Milani, D. VokrouhlickĂ˝, D. Villani, C. Bonanno and A. Rossi, Phys. Rev. D 66, 082001 (2002).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  59. For information about Gravity Probe B see http://einstein.stanford.edu.

  60. I. Ciufolini and E. C. Pavlis, Nature 431, 958 (2004).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  61. J. M. Weisberg, J. H. Taylor, in Binary Radio Pulsars, edited by F. A. Rasio and I. H. Stairs (Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series, Vol. 328), p. 25 (2005).

    Google Scholar 

  62. M. Bailes, S. M. Ord, H. S. Knight and A. W. Hotan, Astrophys. J. Lett. 595, L52 (2003).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  63. G. Esposito-Farèse, in The Tenth Marcel Grossmann Meeting on Recent Developments in Theoretical and Experimental General Relativity, Gravitation and Relativistic Field Theories, edited by M. Novello and S. P. Bergliaffa (World Scientific, Singapore, 2006), p. 647.

    Google Scholar 

  64. A. G. Lyne, M. Burgay, M. Kramer, A. Possenti, R. N. Manchester, F. Camilo, M.A. McLaughlin, D. R. Lorimer, N. D’Amico, B. C. Joshi, J. Reynolds, P. C. C. Freire, Science 303, 1153 (2004).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  65. M. Kramer, D. R. Lorimer, A. G. Lyne, M. A. McLaughlin, M. Burgay, N. D’Amico, A.Possenti, F. Camilo, P. C. C. Freire, B. C. Joshi, R. N. Manchester, J. Reynolds, J. Sarkissian, I. H. Stairs, and R. D. Ferdman, Proceedings of The 22nd Texas Symposium on Relativistic Astrophysics, Stanfor 2004, edited by P. Chen, G. Madejski, E. Bloom and V. Petrosian, eConf C041213, 0038 (2005).

    Google Scholar 

  66. M. Kramer, I. H. Stairs, R. N. Manchester, M. A. McLaughlin, A. G. Lyne, R.D.Ferdman, M.Burgay, D. R. Lorimer, A. Possenti, N. D’Amico, J. M. Sarkissian, G. B. Hobbs, J.E.Reynolds, P. C. C. Freire and F. Camilo, Science 314, 97 (2006).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  67. K. S. Thorne, In 300 Years of Gravitation, edited by S.W. Hawking and W. Israel (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1987), p. 330.

    Google Scholar 

  68. B. C. Barish and R. Weiss, Phys. Today 52, 44 (October) (1999).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  69. C. M. Will, Phys. Today 52, 38 (October) (1999).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  70. M. Visser, Gen. Relativ. and Gravit. 30, 1717 (1998).

    Article  MathSciNet  ADS  MATH  Google Scholar 

  71. C. M. Will, Phys. Rev. D 57, 2061 (1998).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  72. C. Cutler, T. A. Apostolatos, L. Bildsten, L. S. Finn, É. E. Flanagan, D. Kennefick, D.M.Marković, A. Ori, E. Poisson, G. J. Sussman, and K. S. Thorne, Phys. Rev. Lett. 70, 2984 (1993).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  73. C. Talmadge, J.-P. Berthias, R. W. Hellings, and E. M. Standish, Phys. Rev. Lett. 61, 1159 (1988).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  74. C. M. Will and N. Yunes, Class. Quantum Gravit. 21, 4367 (2004).

    Article  ADS  MATH  Google Scholar 

  75. E. Berti, A. Buonanno and C. M. Will, Phys. Rev. D 71, 084025 (2005).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  76. K. Menou, E. Quataert and R. Narayan, in The Eighth Marcel Grossmann Meeting on Recent Developments in Theoretical and Experimental General Relativity, Gravitation and Relativistic Field Theories, edited by T. Piran (World Scientific, Singapore, 1999), p. 204.

    Google Scholar 

  77. D. Psaltis, in X-ray Timing 2003: Rossi and Beyond, edited by P. Kaaret, F. K. Lamb and J.H.Swank, Vol. 714 of AIP Conference Proceedings (American Institute of Physics, Melville, U.S.A., 2004), p. 29.

    Google Scholar 

  78. C. S. Reynolds, L. W. Brenneman, J. Wilms and M. E. Kaiser, Mon. Not. Roy. Astron. Soc., 352, 205 (2004).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  79. C. S. Reynolds, L. W. Brenneman and D. Garofalo, Astrophys. Sp. Sci., 300, 71 (2005).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  80. A. E. Broderick and A. Loeb, Astrophys. J. Lett. 636, L109 (2006).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  81. E. Berti, V. Cardoso and C. M. Will, Phys. Rev. D 73, 064030 (2006).

    Article  MathSciNet  ADS  Google Scholar 

  82. S. A. Hughes, In Laser Interferometer Space Antenna: 6th International LISA Symposium, edited by S. M. Merkowitz and J. C. Livas (AIP Conference Proceedings Volume 873, American Institute of Physics, 2006), p. 233.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported in part by the US National Science Foundation, Grant No. PHY 03-53180 and 06-52448 and by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Grant No. NNG-06GI60G.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics and McDonnell Center for the Space Sciences, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Clifford M. Will

Authors
  1. Clifford M. Will
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Clifford M. Will .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dipto. Ingegneria dell’Innovazione, Università del Salento, Via per Monteroni, Lecce, 73100, Italy

    Ignazio Ciufolini

  2. Dept. Physics, Center for Relativity, University of Texas, Austin, Austin, 78712-1081, USA

    Richard A. Matzner

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2010 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Will, C.M. (2010). The Confrontation Between General Relativity and Experiment. In: Ciufolini, I., Matzner, R. (eds) General Relativity and John Archibald Wheeler. Astrophysics and Space Science Library, vol 367. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-3735-0_6

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation