Post-post-Newtonian deflection of light by the Sun

Journal Article · Mon Dec 15 04:00:00 EST 1980 · Phys. Rev., D; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.22.2947· OSTI ID:6739165

Epstein, R; Shapiro, I I

Using a generalized metric, we calculate the post-post-Newtonian (ppN) contribution to the deflection of starlight by the Sun as well as the post-Newtonian deflections due to the Sun's gravitational quadrupole moment and angular momentum. For light rays grazing the Sun, the magnitudes of these deflections predicted by general relativity are, respectively, about 11, 0.2, and 0.7 ..mu..arcsec. A covariance analysis shows that the ppN contribution could be measured with an uncertainty under 20% with an optical interferometer, in Earth orbit, that can determine the separation of stars with an uncertainty of 1 ..mu..arcsec.

• Research Organization: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
• OSTI ID: 6739165
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev., D; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev., D; (United States) Vol. 22:12; ISSN PRVDA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

657003* -- Theoretical & Mathematical Physics-- Relativity & Gravitation
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BASIC INTERACTIONS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FIELD THEORIES
GENERAL RELATIVITY THEORY
GRAVITATIONAL FIELDS
GRAVITATIONAL INTERACTIONS
INTERACTIONS
INTERFEROMETERS
MAIN SEQUENCE STARS
MASS SPECTRA
MASSLESS PARTICLES
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
METRICS
PHOTONS
QUADRUPOLE MOMENTS
RADIATIONS
SCHWARZSCHILD METRIC
SPECTRA
STARS
STELLAR RADIATION
SUN
VISIBLE RADIATION