Gravity in minesmdashAn investigation of Newton's law

Journal Article · Sun Jun 15 04:00:00 EDT 1986 · Phys. Rev. D; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.33.3487· OSTI ID:5674137

Holding, S C; Stacey, F D; Tuck, G J

The evidence that the value of the Newtonian gravitational constant G inferred from measurements of gravity g in mines and boreholes is of order 1% higher than the laboratory value is hardened with new and improved data from two mines in northwest Queensland. Surface-gravity surveys and more than 14 000 bore-core density values have been used to establish density structures for the mines, permitting full three-dimensional inversion to obtain G. Further constraint is imposed by requiring that the density structure give the same value of G for several vertical profiles of g, separated by hundreds of meters. The only residual doubt arises from the possibility of bias by an anomalous regional gravity gradient. Neither measurements of gravity gradient above ground level (in tall chimneys) nor surface surveys are yet adequate to remove this doubt, but the coincidence of conclusions derived from mine data obtained in different parts of the world makes such an anomaly appear an improbable explanation. If Newton's law is modified by adding a Yukawa term to the gravitational potential of a point mass m at distance r, V = -(G/sub infinity/m/r)(1+..cap alpha..e/sup -r/lambda/), then the mine data provide a mutual constraint on the values of ..cap alpha.. and lambda, although they cannot be determined independently. Our results give ..cap alpha..roughly-equal-0.0075 if lambda< or =200 m and ..cap alpha..roughly-equal-0.014 if lambda> or =10/sup 4/ m, with intermediate values of ..cap alpha.. between these ranges, but values greater than ..cap alpha.. = -0.010, lambda = 800 m appear to be disallowed by a comparison of satellite and land-surface estimates of gravity.

• Research Organization: Physics Department, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4067, Australia
• OSTI ID: 5674137
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. D; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. D; (United States) Vol. 33:12; ISSN PRVDA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

657003* -- Theoretical &amp; Mathematical Physics-- Relativity &amp; Gravitation
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CLASSICAL MECHANICS
GRAVITATIONAL FIELDS
MASS
MECHANICS
MINES
NUCLEAR POTENTIAL
POTENTIALS
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
YUKAWA POTENTIAL