RadioAstron gravitational redshift experiment
status update
D. A. Litvinov (Moscow State University, Lebedev Physical Institute)
U. Bach (Max-Planck-Institute for Radio Astronomy)
N. Bartel (University of York)
K.G. Belousov (Lebedev Physical Institute)
M. Bietenholz (Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory, University of York)
A.V. Biriukov (Lebedev Physical Institute)
G Cimo (Joint Institute for VLBI in Europe (JIVE), Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON))
D. A. Duev (Moscow State University, California Institute of Technology)
L. Gurvits (TU Delft - Astrodynamics & Space Missions, Joint Institute for VLBI in Europe (JIVE))
A.V. Gusev (Moscow State University)
R Haas (Chalmers University of Technology)
V.L. Kauts (Lebedev Physical Institute, Moscow State University)
B.Z. Kanevsky (Lebedev Physical Institute)
A.V. Kovalenko (Pushchino Radio Astronomy Observatory)
G. Kronschnabl (Federal Agency for Cartography and Geodesy)
V.V. Kulagin (Moscow State University)
M. Lindqvist (Chalmers University of Technology)
G. Molera Calves (Aalto University, Joint Institute for VLBI in Europe (JIVE))
A. Neidhardt (Technische Universität München)
C. Plotz (Federal Agency for Cartography and Geodesy)
S. V. Pogrebenko (Joint Institute for VLBI in Europe (JIVE))
N.K. Porayko (Moscow State University, Max-Planck-Institute for Radio Astronomy)
V.N. Rudenko (Moscow State University)
Kirill V. Sokolovsky (Moscow State University, Lebedev Physical Institute)
A.I. Smirnov (Lebedev Physical Institute)
V.A. Stepanyants (Russian Academy of Sciences)
J Yang (Chalmers University of Technology)
M. V. Zakhvatkin (Russian Academy of Sciences)
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Abstract
A test of a cornerstone of general relativity, the gravitational redshift effect, is currently
being conducted with the RadioAstron spacecraft, which is on a highly eccentric orbit
around Earth. Using ground radio telescopes to record the spacecraft signal, synchronized
to its ultra-stable on-board H-maser, we can probe the varying flow of time on board with
unprecedented accuracy. The observations performed so far, currently being analyzed,
have already allowed us to measure the effect with a relative accuracy of 4 × 10−4
. We
expect to reach 2.5×10−5 with additional observations in 2016, an improvement of almost
a magnitude over the 40-year old result of the GP-A mission.