Testing the inverse-square law of gravity on a 465-m tower

Journal Article · Mon Oct 30 04:00:00 EST 1989 · Physical Review Letters; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.63.1902· OSTI ID:5149480

Thomas, J ^[1]; Kasameyer, P; Fackler, O; Felske, D; Harris, R; Kammeraad, J; Millett, M; Mugge, M ^[2]

---

1. Norman Bridge Laboratory of Physics, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125 (USA)
2. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550 (USA)

We have performed a test of Newton's universal theory of gravitation by comparing gravity measured on a tower to an upward continuation of the surface gravity field. We measured gravity at 12 heights on a 465-m tower at the Nevada Test Site and, in addition, made measurements at 281 locations on the ground. The surface points fell within 91 optimally chosen sectors that extended out to 2.6 km from the tower. These data were combined with 60 000 additional surface gravity measurements within 300 km of the tower. We used a surface integral derived from Laplace's equation to upward continue the surface gravity field and our observations are consistent with the Newtonian predictions to within ({minus}60{plus minus}95){times}10{sup {minus}8} m sec{sup {minus}2} at the top of the tower.

• DOE Contract Number: AC03-81ER40050; W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 5149480
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters; (USA), Journal Name: Physical Review Letters; (USA) Vol. 63:18; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

645102* -- High Energy Physics-- Particle Interactions & Properties-Experimental-- Weak Interactions & Properties
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
CLASSICAL MECHANICS
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
EQUATIONS
ERRORS
FLUCTUATIONS
GRAVITATION
GRAVITATIONAL FIELDS
LAPLACE EQUATION
MEASURING METHODS
MECHANICS
NUCLEAR POTENTIAL
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
POTENTIALS
VARIATIONS
YUKAWA POTENTIAL