Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics – General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
Scientific paper
2009-01-20
Gen.Rel.Grav.42:199-208,2010
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
Latex, 12 pages, 1 figure, 3 tables, 23 references. Minor changes. To appear in General Relativity and Gravitation (GRG)
Scientific paper
10.1007/s10714-009-0830-x
Analytical and numerical calculations show that a putative temporal variation of the speed of light c, with the meaning of space-time structure constant c_ST, assumed to be linear over timescales of about one century, would induce a secular precession of the longitude of the pericenter \varpi of a test particle orbiting a spherically symmetric body. By comparing such a predicted effect to the corrections \Delta\dot\varpi to the usual Newtonian/Einsteinian perihelion precessions of the inner planets of the Solar System, recently estimated by E.V. Pitjeva by fitting about one century of modern astronomical observations with the standard dynamical force models of the EPM epehemerides, we obtained \dot c/c =(0.5 +/- 2)\times 10^-7 yr^-1. Moreover, the possibility that \dot c/c\neq 0 over the last century is ruled out at 3-12\sigma level by taking the ratios of the perihelia for different pairs of planets. Our results are independent of any measurement of the variations of other fundamental constants which may be explained by a variation of $c$ itself (with the meaning of electromagnetic constant c_EM). It will be important to repeat such tests if and when other teams of astronomers will estimate their own corrections to the standard Newtonian/Einsteinian planetary perihelion precessions.
No associations
LandOfFree
Solar System planetary tests of \dot c/c does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Solar System planetary tests of \dot c/c, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Solar System planetary tests of \dot c/c will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-435140