On the Possibility of Measuring the Gravitomagnetic Clock Effect in an Earth Space-Based Experiment

Details On the Possibility of Measuring the Gravitomagnetic Clock Effect in an Earth Space-Based Experiment On the Possibility of Measuring the Gravitomagnetic Clock Effect in an Earth Space-Based Experiment

2002-10-10

arxiv.org/abs/gr-qc/0210030v4

Class.Quant.Grav. 22 (2005) 119-132

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology

LaTex2e, 22 pages, no tables, 1 figure, 38 references. Final version accepted for publication in Classical and Quantum Gravity

Scientific paper

10.1088/0264-9381/22/1/008

In this paper the effect of the post-Newtonian gravitomagnetic force on the mean longitudes $l$ of a pair of counter-rotating Earth artificial satellites following almost identical circular equatorial orbits is investigated. The possibility of measuring it is examined. The observable is the difference of the times required to $l$ in passing from 0 to 2$\pi$ for both senses of motion. Such gravitomagnetic time shift, which is independent of the orbital parameters of the satellites, amounts to 5$\times 10^{-7}$ s for Earth; it is cumulative and should be measured after a sufficiently high number of revolutions. The major limiting factors are the unavoidable imperfect cancellation of the Keplerian periods, which yields a constraint of 10$^{-2}$ cm in knowing the difference between the semimajor axes $a$ of the satellites, and the difference $I$ of the inclinations $i$ of the orbital planes which, for $i\sim 0.01^\circ$, should be less than $0.006^\circ$. A pair of spacecrafts endowed with a sophisticated intersatellite tracking apparatus and drag-free control down to 10$^{-9}$ cm s$^{-2}$ Hz$^{-{1/2}}$ level might allow to meet the stringent requirements posed by such a mission.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

On the Possibility of Measuring the Gravitomagnetic Clock Effect in an Earth Space-Based Experiment 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 On the Possibility of Measuring the Gravitomagnetic Clock Effect in an Earth Space-Based Experiment, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and On the Possibility of Measuring the Gravitomagnetic Clock Effect in an Earth Space-Based Experiment will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-542489