Abstract
On August 22, 2014, the satellites GSAT-0201 and GSAT-0202 of the European GNSS Galileo were unintentionally launched into eccentric orbits. Unexpectedly, this has become a fortunate scientific opportunity since the onboard hydrogen masers allow for a sensitive test of the redshift predicted by the theory of general relativity. In the present Letter, we describe an analysis of approximately three years of data from these satellites including three different clocks. For one of these, we determine the test parameter quantifying a potential violation of the combined effects of the gravitational redshift and the relativistic Doppler shift. The uncertainty of our result is reduced by more than a factor 4 as compared to the values of Gravity Probe A obtained in 1976.
- Received 2 July 2018
- Revised 17 September 2018
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.121.231102
© 2018 American Physical Society
Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)
Synopsis
Satellite Mishap Provides Chance for Relativity Test
Published 4 December 2018
Two satellites erroneously placed in elliptical orbits have been used to test general relativity with unprecedented precision.
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