Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union

Table of Contents - 2009 - Volume 5, Symposium S261 (Relativity in Fundamental Astronomy: Dynamics, Reference Frames, and Data Analysis)  

Contributed Papers

Space clocks to test relativiy: ACES and SAGAS

Peter Wolfa1, Christophe Salomona1 and Serge Reynauda3

a1 LNE-SYRTE, Observatoire de Paris, CNRS, UPMC 61, avenue de l'Observatoire, 75014 Paris, France

a2 Laboratoire Kastler Brossel, ENS, UPMC, CNRS, Département de Physique de l'Ecole Normale Supérieure, 75231 Paris, France

a3 Laboratoire Kastler Brossel, ENS, UPMC, CNRS, Case 74, Campus Jussieu, 75252 Paris, France

Abstract

Atomic clocks are an outstanding tool for the experimental verification of general relativity and more generally for fundamental astronomy (VLBI, pulsar timing, navigation, etc). Recent years have seen a rapid improvement in the performance of such clocks, promising new improved tests of relativity, in particular onboard terrestrial and interplanetary space missions. We present the scientific motivations of such tests taking the ACES Salomon et al. and SAGAS Wolf et al. (2009) projects as particular examples.

Keywords

  • tests of general relativity;
  • atomic clocks;
  • fundamental physics in space

Footnotes

Note: This material is in part based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0843236. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.