EMPIRICAL FOUNDATIONS OF THE RELATIVISTIC GRAVITY

Abstract

In 1859, Le Verrier discovered the mercury perihelion advance anomaly. This anomaly turned out to be the first relativistic-gravity effect observed. During the 141 years to 2000, the precisions of laboratory and space experiments, and astrophysical and cosmological observations on relativistic gravity have been improved by 3 orders of magnitude. In 1999, we envisaged a 3–6 order improvement in the next 30 years in all directions of tests of relativistic gravity. In 2000, the interferometric gravitational wave detectors began their runs to accumulate data. In 2003, the measurement of relativistic Shapiro time-delay of the Cassini spacecraft determined the relativistic-gravity parameter γ to be 1.000021 ± 0.000023 of general relativity — a 1.5-order improvement. In October 2004, Ciufolini and Pavlis reported a measurement of the Lense–Thirring effect on the LAGEOS and LAGEOS2 satellites to be 0.99 ± 0.10 of the value predicted by general relativity. In April 2004, Gravity Probe B (Stanford relativity gyroscope experiment to measure the Lense–Thirring effect to 1%) was launched and has been accumulating science data for more than 170 days now. μSCOPE (MICROSCOPE: MICRO-Satellite à trainée Compensée pour l'Observation du Principle d'Équivalence) is on its way for a 2008 launch to test Galileo equivalence principle to 10-15. LISA Pathfinder (SMART2), the technological demonstrator for the LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna) mission is well on its way for a 2009 launch. STEP (Satellite Test of Equivalence Principle), and ASTROD (Astrodynamical Space Test of Relativity using Optical Devices) are in good planning stage. Various astrophysical tests and cosmological tests of relativistic gravity will reach precision and ultra-precision stages. Clock tests and atomic interferometry tests of relativistic gravity will reach an ever-increasing precision. These will give revived interest and development both in experimental and theoretical aspects of gravity, and may lead to answers to some profound questions of gravity and the cosmos.