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APSIS - an Artificial Planetary System in Space to probe extra-dimensional gravity and MOND

Varun Sahni·Yuri Shtanov
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Abstract

A proposal is made to test Newton's inverse-square law using the perihelion shift of test masses (planets) in free fall within a spacecraft located at the Earth-Sun L2 point. Such an Artificial Planetary System In Space (APSIS) will operate in a drag-free environment with controlled experimental conditions and minimal interference from terrestrial sources of contamination. We demonstrate that such a space experiment can probe the presence of a "hidden" fifth dimension on the scale of a micron, if the perihelion shift of a "planet" can be measured to sub-arc-second accuracy. Some suggestions for spacecraft design are made.

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Varun Sahni, Yuri Shtanov. 2007-12-05. APSIS - an Artificial Planetary System in Space to probe extra-dimensional gravity and MOND. https://doi.org/10.1142/s0218271808012127

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