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Cryogenic Equivalence Principle ExperimentThe purpose of this project is to test the equivalence of inertial and passive gravitational mass in an Earth-orbiting satellite. A ground-based experiment is now well developed. It consists of comparing the motions of two cylindrical test masses suspended in precision superconducting magnetic bearings and free to move along the horizontal (axis) direction. The masses are made of niobium and lead-plated aluminum. A position detector based on a SQUID magnetometer measures the differential motion between the masses. The periods of the masses are matched by adjustment of the position detector until the system is insensitive to common mode signals, and so that the experiment is less sensitive to seismic vibration. The apparatus is contained in a twelve inch helium dewar suspended in a vibration isolation stand. The stand achieves 30 db isolation from horizontal motions between 0.1 and 60 Hz, by simulating the motion of a 200 meter long pendulum with an air bearing. With this attenuation of seismic noise and a common mode rejection ratio of 10 to the 5th power in the differential mode, the ground based apparatus should have a sensitivity to equivalence principle violations of one part in 10 to the 13th power; the satellite version might have a sensitivity of one part in 10 to the 17th power.
Document ID
19860000704
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Other
Authors
Everitt, C. W. F.
(Stanford Univ. CA, United States)
Worden, P. W.
(Stanford Univ. CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 12, 2013
Publication Date
May 1, 1985
Publication Information
Publication: NASA, Washington Microgravity Sci. and Appl. Program Tasks
Subject Category
Astronautics (General)
Accession Number
86N10171
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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