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Was Einstein right?
Author(s) -
Will C.M.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
annalen der physik
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.009
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1521-3889
pISSN - 0003-3804
DOI - 10.1002/andp.200510170
Subject(s) - physics , general relativity , gravity probe a , tests of general relativity , equivalence principle (geometric) , gravitational wave , linearized gravity , theoretical physics , gravitational redshift , gravitational field , classical mechanics , einstein , binary pulsar , gravitation , two body problem in general relativity , gravitational time dilation , pulsar , introduction to the mathematics of general relativity , numerical relativity , astrophysics , millisecond pulsar
We review the experimental evidence for Einstein's special and general relativity. A variety of high precision null experiments verify the weak equivalence principle and local Lorentz invariance, while gravitational redshift and other clock experiments support local position invariance. Together these results confirm the Einstein Equivalence Principle which underlies the concept that gravitation is synonymous with spacetime geometry, and must be described by a metric theory. Solar system experiments that test the weak‐field, post‐Newtonian limit of metric theories strongly favor general relativity. The Binary Pulsar provides tests of gravitational‐wave damping and of strong‐field general relativity. Recently discovered binary pulsar systems may provide additional tests. Future and ongoing experiments, such as the Gravity Probe B Gyroscope Experiment, satellite tests of the Equivalence Principle, and tests of gravity at short distance to look for extra spatial dimensions could constrain extensions of general relativity. Laser interferometric gravitational‐wave observatories on Earth and in space may provide new tests of gravitational theory via detailed measurements of the properties of gravitational waves.
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