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Phys. Rev. Lett. 100, 041101 (2008) [4 pages]

Test of the Equivalence Principle Using a Rotating Torsion Balance

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S. Schlamminger, K.-Y. Choi, T. A. Wagner, J. H. Gundlach, and E. G. Adelberger
Center for Experimental Nuclear Physics and Astrophysics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, 98195, USA

Received 4 October 2007; revised 3 December 2007; published 28 January 2008

We used a continuously rotating torsion balance instrument to measure the acceleration difference of beryllium and titanium test bodies towards sources at a variety of distances. Our result ΔaN,Be-Ti=(0.6±3.1)×10-15  m/s2 improves limits on equivalence-principle violations with ranges from 1 m to by an order of magnitude. The Eötvös parameter is ηEarth,Be-Ti=(0.3±1.8)×10-13. By analyzing our data for accelerations towards the center of the Milky Way we find equal attractions of Be and Ti towards galactic dark matter, yielding ηDM,Be-Ti=(-4±7)×10-5. Space-fixed differential accelerations in any direction are limited to less than 8.8×10-15  m/s2 with 95% confidence.

© 2008 The American Physical Society

URL:
http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevLett.100.041101
DOI:
10.1103/PhysRevLett.100.041101
PACS:
04.80.Cc