Period of orbit as a test of the general theory of relativity

Thesis/Dissertation · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:5464993

Preston, H G

The formalism of the general relativity Hamilton-Jacobi equation suggests four types of corrections due to general relativity that might be the basis of a test of the predictions of general relativity. Tests has been conducted on only three of these corrections. The fourth correction is to period of orbit of a test mass. The period of orbit is derived here for the circular case using the geodesic equation. Using the Hamilton-Jacobi formalism and phase-integral canonical transforms, the general relativity form of Kepler's third law is derived and is valid for arbitrary eccentricities. The corrections due to general relativity on the period of the planets are calculated. For Mercury, the correction is 1.4 seconds. The time-delay experiment conducted at JPL and MIT numerically integrated the motion of six planets and least-square adjusted the orbital constants over a period of 80 years. This experiment did not detect the period of orbit because of the particular formalism used in the least square adjustment procedure. A modification of the least-square data-reduction program was made and programmed by the author. The modified program, as designed, will accurately measure the period of orbit.

• Research Organization: California Univ., Irvine (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5464993
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640107 -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Planetary Phenomena
657003* -- Theoretical & Mathematical Physics-- Relativity & Gravitation
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CORRECTIONS
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
EQUATIONS
FIELD THEORIES
GENERAL RELATIVITY THEORY
GEODESICS
HAMILTON-JACOBI EQUATIONS
LEAST SQUARE FIT
MAXIMUM-LIKELIHOOD FIT
MERCURY PLANET
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
ORBITS
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
PLANETS