Year: 1999
Type: article
Abstract: We tested the equivalence principle at short length scales by rotating a 3 ton ${}^{238}\mathrm{U}$ attractor around a compact torsion balance containing Cu and Pb test bodies. The observed differential acceleration of the test bodies toward the attractor, ${a}_{\mathrm{Cu}}\ensuremath{-}{a}_{\mathrm{Pb}}=(1.0\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2.8)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}13} {\mathrm{c}\mathrm{m}/\mathrm{s}}^{2},$ should be compared to the corresponding gravitational acceleration of $9.2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}5} {\mathrm{c}\mathrm{m}/\mathrm{s}}^{2}.$ Our results set new constraints on equivalence-principle violating interactions with Yukawa ranges down to 1 cm, and improve by substantial factors existing limits for ranges between 10 km and 1000 km. Our data also set strong constraints on certain power-law potentials that can arise from two-boson exchange processes.
Institution: University of Washington
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2084800606