Any Laboratory Scale Test of GR's correction to Newtonian Gravity?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the lack of laboratory-scale experiments testing general relativistic effects, particularly frame dragging, between two test bodies. While Newtonian gravity has been validated down to millimeter scales, no experiments have been conducted to assess the validity of general relativity at similar scales. The assumption that general relativity remains a valid classical limit down to microscopic scales, as posited by string theory, is questioned due to this absence of empirical evidence. Additionally, existing laboratory experiments have primarily focused on special relativity, such as Doppler effects.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of general relativity principles
  • Familiarity with laboratory testing methods in physics
  • Knowledge of Newtonian gravity and its limitations
  • Awareness of string theory concepts
NEXT STEPS
  • Research laboratory experiments testing general relativity, focusing on frame dragging
  • Explore the implications of string theory on gravity at microscopic scales
  • Investigate existing experiments on special relativity, including Doppler effects
  • Study the limitations of Newtonian gravity in modern physics
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Physicists, researchers in gravitational studies, and students interested in the experimental validation of general relativity and its implications in quantum gravity theories.

petergreat
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Understanding the short-distance behaviour of gravity is crucial for constructing a quantum theory of gravity. The Newtonian inverse square law approximation has been tested in laboratory down to millimeter scales, but I'm not aware of any laboratory scale experiments testing general relativistic effects between two test bodies (frame dragging etc.). As far as I understand, string theory assumes that general relativity is a valid classical limit down to microscopic scales. Could it be that this assumption is simply wrong, even at millimeter scales?
 
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petergreat said:
I'm not aware of any laboratory scale experiments testing general relativistic effects between two test bodies (frame dragging etc.)

There are lab scale experiments that test special relativity (i.e. Doppler and Transverse Doppler).
 

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