System design for the control of liquid helium by electrostatic forces for the Satellite Test of Equivalence Principle (STEP) mission

Autor:	R. Torii, E. Bunker, D. Rogers, Peter Mason, P. MacNeal, G. Gutt, P. Worden
Rok vydání:	1994
Předmět:	Physics Inertial frame of reference Gravimeter Liquid helium General relativity media_common.quotation_subject General Physics and Astronomy Mechanics Inertia law.invention Gravitation law General Materials Science Equivalence principle Equivalence (measure theory) media_common
Zdroj:	Cryogenics. 34:277-280
ISSN:	0011-2275
DOI:	10.1016/s0011-2275(05)80061-x
Popis:	Since the equivalence principle is a fundamental postulate of Einstein's general theory of relativity, a precise test is of great scientific interest. An improved test of the equivalence of inertial and gravitational mass by a factor of 10 6 is now possible, using superconducting measurement technology in an earth-orbiting spacecraft. Superfluid liquid helium must be used as a cryogen to maintain the temperature of the four gravimeters at 1.8 K. Because of the extreme sensitivity of the measurement, the gravitational disturbance caused by the motion of the liquid helium in the local gravity-gradient field is of concern. It is proposed to use electrostatic forces to provide the necessary control. We present a description of the design and performance of a proposed flight system.
Databáze:	OpenAIRE
Externí odkaz:	https://explore.openaire.eu/search/publication?articleId=doi_________::8c557fa5e29be750722967556b4dadfe https://doi.org/10.1016/s0011-2275(05)80061-x Zobrazit plný text záznamu