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A restricted proof that the weak equivalence principle implies the Einstein equivalence principleSchiff has conjectured that the weak equivalence principle (WEP) implies the Einstein equivalence principle (EEP). A proof is presented of Schiff's conjecture, restricted to: (1) test bodies made of electromagnetically interacting point particles, that fall from rest in a static, spherically symmetric gravitational field; (2) theories of gravity within a certain broad class - a class that includes almost all complete relativistic theories that have been found in the literature, but with each theory truncated to contain only point particles plus electromagnetic and gravitational fields. The proof shows that every nonmentric theory in the class (every theory that violates EEP) must violate WEP. A formula is derived for the magnitude of the violation. It is shown that WEP is a powerful theoretical and experimental tool for constraining the manner in which gravity couples to electromagnetism in gravitation theories.
Document ID
19730012018
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Contractor Report (CR)
Authors
Lightman, A. P.
(California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Lee, D. L.
(California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
September 2, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1973
Subject Category
Physics, General
Report/Patent Number
NASA-CR-131420
Accession Number
73N20745
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF GP-36687
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF GP-28027
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGR-05-002-256
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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