Which solutions of GR are experimentally tested

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the experimental testing of solutions to General Relativity (GR), specifically identifying which solutions have been validated through empirical evidence. The scope includes theoretical considerations and references to experimental setups.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants assert that only the Minkowski (Special Relativity) and Schwarzschild solutions have been experimentally tested.
  • One participant mentions spiraling binaries as an additional example of tested solutions.
  • Another participant references ongoing technical work on Enhanced LIGO, suggesting that future sensitivity improvements may lead to further tests of GR solutions.
  • One participant proposes that if astronomical and cosmological observations are considered, the Friedmann-Robertson-Walker (FRW) and Kerr solutions could also be included as tested solutions.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on which solutions of GR have been experimentally tested, with no consensus reached on a definitive list of solutions.

Contextual Notes

Some claims depend on the definitions of "testing" and the types of observations considered, such as whether only local tests or broader astronomical observations are included.

smallphi
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I think we have tested experimentally only Minkowski (Special Relativity) and Schwarzschield (Solar system tests) solutions of GR.

Am I missing anything?
 
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smallphi said:
I think we have tested experimentally only Minkowski (Special Relativity) and Schwarzschield (Solar system tests) solutions of GR.

Am I missing anything?

Spiraling binaries.
 
smallphi said:
I think we have tested experimentally only Minkowski (Special Relativity) and Schwarzschield (Solar system tests) solutions of GR.

Am I missing anything?

http://einstein.stanford.edu/" goes beyond Schwarzschild.

See, also, https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=173870".

Technical work on Enhanced Ligo, which will boost sensitivity by a factor of 2, should start now/soon, and then another data-taking run will be made. After this, work on Advanced Ligo should start in 2010, with data-taking starting in 2014. Advanced LIGO should be 10 times more sensitive than initial LIGO, and if it doesn't see anything, then theory might be in trouble.

See the Prospects section from conference proceeding #52, P070079-01, from http://www.lsc-group.phys.uwm.edu/ppcomm/Papers.html" .
 
Last edited by a moderator:
If you accept astronomical, especially cosmological, observations as tests, you can add FRW (Friedmann-Robertson-Walker) exact solutions to Minkowski, Schwarzschild and Kerr("rotating Schwarzschild") as exact solutions that have been at least slightly tested.

Jim Graber
 

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