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Gravitational limitation on the verification of special relativity in the laboratory

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Abstract

We analyze the Michelson type experiment performed by Brillet and Hall. The order of magnitude of the gravitational effect (a beating frequency between two lasers) is calculated. We prove that Newtonian tidal forces could be observed when they originate from the oblateness of the Earth, from its rotation, from local masses, from the Moon or the Sun but not from the Galaxy (contrary to what has been recently claimed). We conclude that it is important to build a new parametrized theoretical framework for the analysis of high-precision experiments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gravitation et Cosmologie Relativistes, UPMC et CNRS (UA 769), Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Boîte courrier 142, 4, place Jussieu, F-75252, Paris Cedex, France

    P. Tourrenc & T. Melliti

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  1. P. Tourrenc
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  2. T. Melliti
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Tourrenc, P., Melliti, T. Gravitational limitation on the verification of special relativity in the laboratory. Found Phys 25, 361–376 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02055213

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