A space-based optical Kennedy-Thorndike experiment testing special relativity

Author

Milke, Alexander ; Aguilera, Deborah N. ; Gurlebeck, Norman ; Schuldt, Thilo ; Herrmann, S. ; Doringshoff, Klaus ; Spannagel, Ruven ; Lammerzahl, Claus ; Peters, Achim ; Biering, Bernd ; Dittus, Hansjorg ; Braxmaier, Claus

Author_Institution

Center for Appl. Space Technol. & Microgravity (ZARM), Univ. of Bremen, Bremen, Germany

fYear

2013

fDate

21-25 July 2013

Firstpage

912

Lastpage

914

Abstract

We propose a small satellite mission that aims for testing the foundations of special relativity by performing a Kennedy-Thorndike (KT) experiment. A potential boost dependence of the velocity of light is measured by comparing a length reference (i.e. a highly stable optical resonator) with a molecular frequency reference. By employing clocks with 10^-16 frequency stability at half orbit time (45 min) and by integration over 5000 orbits (2 years mission lifetime with 50% duty cycle) a 1600-fold improvement in measuring the Kennedy-Thorndike coefficient is targeted, compared to the current best terrestrial test.

Keywords

artificial satellites; astronomical instruments; integration; special relativity; Kennedy-Thorndike coefficient; frequency stability; integration; light velocity; molecular frequency reference; small satellite mission; space-based optical Kennedy-Thorndike experiment testing; special relativity; Cavity resonators; Extraterrestrial measurements; Frequency measurement; Laser stability; Space vehicles; Stability analysis; Thermal stability;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

European Frequency and Time Forum & International Frequency Control Symposium (EFTF/IFC), 2013 Joint

Conference_Location

Prague

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/EFTF-IFC.2013.6702260

Filename

6702260