Univ. Bremen
Prof. Dr. M. List
Experimental Gravitation
(S2, compulsory, 6 ECTS)
Learning Outcomes:– Distinction between foundations and consequences of General Relativity
– Overview and principles of modern experimental
methods (especially in space) and appropriate mission and orbit design
– Overview over important and best experiments carried out so far
Knowledge and Understanding:

Applying Knowledge and Understanding:
PrerequisitesExperimental Physics
ProgramOverview over (i) theoretical framework to describe tests of gravity, (ii) experimental methods, and (iii) performed experiments testing gravity. In more detail
– Orbits, environmental disturbances in orbit and their effects on mission/experiment design
– Einstein Equivalence Principle: Universality of Free Fall, Universality of the Gravitational Redshift, Local Lorentz Invariance
– Test of Universality of Free Fall (free fall, pendulum, torsion pendulum, atom interferometry, space tests), MICROSCOPE Mission
– Test of Universality of Gravitational Redshift (clock comparison), Galileo-tests
– Gravitational waves: theoretical background and
motivation
– Technology demonstrators: LISA-Pathfinder and GRACE-FO
– Measurement of gravitational waves (LISA)
– Benefits of gravity measurement: detect and evaluate the progress of climate change (GRACE and GRACE-FO)
Description of how the course is conducted– Contact hours (lecture + exercise): 56 h (4 h x 14 weeks)
– Preparation, learning, exercises: 56 h (4 h x 14 weeks)
– Preparation for exam: 68 h
Total working hours: 180 h
Description of the didactic methods
Description of the evaluation methods
Oral exam
Adopted Textbooks– C. Will: Theory and Experiments in Gravitational Physics, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 2018.
– E. Fischbach and C.L. Talmadge: Search for Non-Newtonian Gravity, Springer, 1999.
– Y. Chen and A. Cook: Gravitational Experiments in the Laboratory, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 1993.
– M. List and C. Lämmerzahl: Das Äquivalenzprinzip – Grundlagen, Tests und neueste Messungen, Springer-Essentials, Springer-Nature 2021.
Recommended readings