NEW TESTS OF THE GRAVITATIONAL REDSHIFT EFFECT

Tests of the gravitational redshift effect provide a way to check the validity of the Einstein Equivalence Principle (EEP) and, more specifically, of general relativity. If the EEP is valid, then the redshift should be the same for different clocks. Also, according to general relativity, the redshift should depend upon only the total mass of a gravitating body without reference to its detailed composition. These predictions have been tested mainly in the gravitational field of the Earth. It is now possible to measure, with space probes, the redshift effect to good accuracy in the vicinity of other bodies in the solar system, in particular at the massive outer planets. The present and future status of these experiments is discussed.