Abstract
This republication consists of the introductory section of “The theoretical significance of experimental relativity” (1964). The material itself appeared first as lectures at a Les Houches school. It played a seminal role in stimulating the now rich field of experimental gravitational physics, by surveying earlier experiments and the current and recent work by Dicke and his group, in particular their improved version of the famous Eötvös experiment, and by analysing their theoretical consequences in detail. Future topics for enquiry were pointed out. The paper has been selected by the Editors of General Relativity and Gravitation for re-publication in the Golden Oldies series of the journal. This republication is accompanied by an editorial note written by P. J. E. Peebles and by a brief biography written by M. A. H. MacCallum.
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An editorial note to this paper and a biography can be found in this issue preceding this Golden Oldie and online via https://doi.org/10.1007/s10714-019-2508-3.
Original paper: R. H. Dicke, The theoretical significance of experimental relativity, Gordon and Breach (1964). The book was a reissue of Dicke’s contribution “Experimental relativity” in “Relativity, Groups and Topology” ed. C. DeWitt and B. DeWitt, Blackie and Son (1964), pp. 165–313. Here we have reprinted only the introductory section (pages 1–31 of the book), and not the following appendices. Almost all those appendices were published papers in readily available journals: a list appears at the end of this republished section. The original notation has been kept and minor textual errors have not been corrected.
We are grateful to Nancy Dicke Rapoport, John Dicke and James Dicke for permission to republish their father’s work.
Editorial responsibility: Malcolm A. H. MacCallum, e-mail: m.a.h.maccallum@qmul.ac.uk.
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Dicke, R.H. Republication of: The theoretical significance of experimental relativity. Gen Relativ Gravit 51, 57 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10714-019-2509-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10714-019-2509-2