1986Symposium - International Astronomical UnionOpen access

General Relativity confronts experiment

Clifford M. Will

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Abstract

We review the status of experimental tests of general relativity. These include tests of the Einstein Equivalence Principle, which requires that gravitation be described by a curved-spacetime, “metric” theory of gravity. General relativity is consistent with all tests to date, including the “classical tests”: light deflection using radio interferometers, radar time delay using Viking Mars landers, and the perihelion shift of Mercury; and tests of the strong equivalence principle, such as lunar laser ranging tests of the “Nordtvedt effect”, and tests for variations in G. We also review ten years of observations of the Binary Pulsar, in which the first evidence for gravitational radiation has been found.

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We review the status of experimental tests of general relativity. These include tests of the Einstein Equivalence Principle, which requires that gravitation be described by a curved-spacetime, “metric” theory of gravity. General relativity is consistent with all tests to date, including the “classical tests”: light deflection using radio interferometers, radar time delay using Viking Mars landers, and the perihelion shift of Mercury; and tests of the strong equivalence principle, such as lunar laser ranging tests of the “Nordtvedt effect”, and tests for variations in G. We also review ten years of observations of the Binary Pulsar, in which the first evidence for gravitational radiation has been found.

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Available abstract

We review the status of experimental tests of general relativity. These include tests of the Einstein Equivalence Principle, which requires that gravitation be described by a curved-spacetime, “metric” theory of gravity. General relativity is consistent with all tests to date, including the “classical tests”: light deflection using radio interferometers, radar time delay using Viking Mars landers, and the perihelion shift of Mercury; and tests of the strong equivalence principle, such as lunar laser ranging tests of the “Nordtvedt effect”, and tests for variations in G. We also review ten years of observations of the Binary Pulsar, in which the first evidence for gravitational radiation has been found.

Key concepts: Tests of general relativity, Physics, General relativity, Equivalence principle (geometric), Gravitational wave, Tests of special relativity, Theory of relativity, Gravitation

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