MICROSCOPE mission: final results of the test of the equivalence principle
OA Location
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The MICROSCOPE mission was designed to test the weak equivalence principle (WEP), stating the equality between the inertial and the gravitational masses, with a precision of 10^{-15} in terms of the Eötvös ratio η. Its experimental test consisted of comparing the accelerations undergone by two collocated test masses of different compositions as they orbited the Earth, by measuring the electrostatic forces required to keep them in equilibrium. This was done with ultrasensitive differential electrostatic accelerometers onboard a drag-free satellite. The mission lasted two and a half years, cumulating five months worth of science free-fall data, two-thirds with a pair of test masses of different compositions-titanium and platinum alloys-and the last third with a reference pair of test masses of the same composition-platinum. We summarize the data analysis, with an emphasis on the characterization of the systematic uncertainties due to thermal instabilities and on the correction of short-lived events which could mimic a WEP violation signal. We found no violation of the WEP, with the Eötvös parameter of the titanium and platinum pair constrained to η(Ti,Pt)=[-1.5±2.3(stat)±1.5(syst)]×10^{-15} at 1σ in statistical errors.
Date Issued
2022-09-16
Date Acceptance
2022-03-30
Citation
Physical Review Letters, 2022, 129 (12)
ISSN
0031-9007
Publisher
American Physical Society
Journal / Book Title
Physical Review Letters
Volume
129
Issue
12
Copyright Statement
© 2022 American Physical Society
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/36179190
Subjects
MICROSCOPE Collaboration
General Physics
01 Mathematical Sciences
02 Physical Sciences
09 Engineering
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
United States
Article Number
ARTN 121102
Date Publish Online
2022-09-14