Abstract
Theoretical speculations about the quantum nature of the gravitational interaction have motivated many recent experiments. But perhaps the most profound and puzzling questions that these investigations address surround the observed cosmic acceleration, or Dark Energy. This mysterious substance comprises roughly two-thirds of the energy density of the universe. Current gravitational experiments may soon have the sensitivity to detect subtle clues that will reveal the mechanism behind the cosmic acceleration. On the laboratory scale, short-range tests of the Newtonian inverse-square law (ISL) provide the most sensitive measurements of gravity at the Dark Energy length scale, \(\lambda _{\rm d} = (\hbar\hbox{c}/\rho_{\rm d})^{1/4}\approx 85 {\mu\hbox{m}},\) where \(\rho_{\rm d} \approx 3.8 \hbox{keV/cm}^{3}\) is the observed Dark Energy density. This length scale may also have fundamental significance that could be related to the “size” of the graviton. At the University of Washington, we are conducting the world’s most sensitive, short-range test of the Newtonian ISL.
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Fourth Award in the 2006 Essay Competition of the Gravity Research Foundation.
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Hoyle, C.D. The “dark side” of gravitational experiments. Gen Relativ Gravit 38, 1553–1558 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10714-006-0336-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10714-006-0336-8