Gravitational redshift of gravitational clocks

Journal Article · Fri Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1984 · Ann. Phys. (N.Y.); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0003-4916(84)90255-0· OSTI ID:6732859

Will, C M

The gravitational redshift of gravitational clocks in a given weak gravitational field, within general relativity, is considered. Because the clocks in question have structure and dynamics determined by gravitational interactions, the full machinery of Einstein's equations must be used. Three specific examples are treated: (i) the redshift of the angular frequency of a rotating relativistic star in the gravitational field of a distant body; (ii) the redshift of the angular velocity of a slowly rotating black hole surrounded by an axisymmetric ring of matter; and (iii) the redshift of the observed orbital period of a nearly circular, post-Newtonian binary system in the field of a distant, third body. In all three cases the redshift is the same as if the clocks were non-gravitational, thereby governed by the Einstein equivalence principle. For an observer at infinity, the redshift Zequivalent..delta..v/v is given by Z = -Gm/Rc/sup 2/, where m is the mass of the distant object and R its distance from the clock in question. The result is independent of how relativistic the clock may be. The significance of this conclusion for the binary pulsar PSR 1913+16, where the gravitational redshift of the pulsar's frequency caused by the gravitational field of the pulsar's frequency caused by the gravitational field of its companion is an observable effect, is discussed. The extent to which this result is a manifestation of the strong equivalence principle, satisfied, as for is known, only be general relativity, is also noted.

• Research Organization: McDonnell Center for the Space Sciences, Department of Physics, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri 63130
• OSTI ID: 6732859
• Journal Information: Ann. Phys. (N.Y.); (United States), Journal Name: Ann. Phys. (N.Y.); (United States) Vol. 155:1; ISSN APNYA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

657003* -- Theoretical & Mathematical Physics-- Relativity & Gravitation
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BASIC INTERACTIONS
BLACK HOLES
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
EINSTEIN FIELD EQUATIONS
EQUATIONS
EQUIVALENCE PRINCIPLE
FIELD EQUATIONS
FIELD THEORIES
GENERAL RELATIVITY THEORY
GRAVITATIONAL FIELDS
GRAVITATIONAL INTERACTIONS
INTERACTIONS
METRICS
MOTION
PULSARS
RED SHIFT
ROTATION
STARS