arXiv subjects

Lorenzo Iorio

Publications and source records attributed to Lorenzo Iorio.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

arXiv2013

Preliminary bounds of the gravitational Local Position Invariance from Solar System planetary precessions

In the framework of the Parameterized Post-Newtonian (PPN) formalism, we calculate the long-term Preferred Location (PL) effects, proportional to the Whitehead parameter $ξ$, affecting all the Keplerian orbital elements of a localized two-body system, apart from the semimajor axis $a$. They violate the gravitational Local Position Invariance (LPI), fulfilled by General Relativity (GR). We obtain preliminary bounds on $ξ$ by using the latest results in the field of the Solar System planetary ephemerides. The non-detection of any anomalous perihelion precession for Mars allows us to indirectly infer $|ξ|\leq 5.8\times 10^{-6}$. \textcolor{black}{Such a bound is close to the constraint, of the order of $10^{-6}$, expected from the future BepiColombo mission to Mercury. As a complementary approach, the PL effects should be explicitly included in the dynamical models fitted to planetary data sets to estimate $ξ$ in a least-square fashion in a dedicated ephemerides orbit solution.} The ratio of the anomalous perihelion precessions for Venus and Jupiter, determined with the EPM2011 ephemerides at the $<3σ$ level, if confirmed as genuine physical effects needing explanation by future studies, rules out the hypothesis $ξ\neq 0$. A critical discussion of the $|ξ| \lesssim 10^{-6}-10^{-7}$ upper bounds obtained in the literature from the close alignment of the Sun's spin axis and the total angular momentum of the Solar System is presented.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2013

A Closer Earth and the Faint Young Sun Paradox: Modification of the Laws of Gravitation, or Sun/Earth Mass Losses?

Given a solar luminosity L_Ar = 0.75 L_0 at the beginning of the Archean 3.8 Gyr ago, where L_0 is the present-day one, if the heliocentric distance r of the Earth was r_Ar = 0.956 r_0, the solar irradiance would have been as large as I_Ar = 0.82 I_0. It would allowed for a liquid ocean on the terrestrial surface which, otherwise, would have been frozen, contrary to the empirical evidence. By further assuming that some physical mechanism subsequently displaced the Earth towards its current distance in such a way that the irradiance stayed substantially constant over the entire Archean from 3.8 Gyr to 2.5 Gyr ago, a relative recession rate as large as \dot r/r \simeq 3.4 x 10^-11 yr^-1 would have been required. Although such a figure is roughly of the same order of magnitude of the value of the Hubble parameter 3.8 Gyr ago H_Ar = 1.192 H_0 = 8.2 x 10^-11 yr^-1, standard general relativity rules out cosmological explanations for the hypothesized Earth' s recession rate. Instead, a class of modified theories of gravitation with nonminimal coupling between the matter and the metric naturally predicts a secular variation of the relative distance of a localized two-body system, thus yielding a potentially viable candidate to explain the putative recession of the Earth' s orbit. Another competing mechanism of classical origin which could, in principle, allow for the desired effect is the mass loss which either the Sun or the Earth itself may have experienced during the Archean. On the one hand, this implies that our planet should have lost 2% of its present mass in the form of eroded/evaporated hydrosphere which, thus, should have been two orders of magnitude larger than now. On the other hand, it is widely believed that the Sun could have lost mass at an enhanced rate due to a stronger solar wind in the past for not more than \sim 0.2-0.3 Gyr.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2013

A model-independent test of spatial variations of the Newtonian gravitational constant in some extrasolar planetary systems

In this paper we directly constrain possible spatial variations of the Newtonian gravitational constant G over ranges 0.01-5 AU in various extrasolar multi-planet systems. By means of the third Kepler's law we determine the quantity Γ_ XY=G_X/G_Y for each couple of planets X and Y located at different distances from their parent star: deviations of the measured values of Γfrom unity would signal variations of G. The obtained results for η=1-Γare found to be well compatible with zero within the experimental errors (η/δη= 0.2-0.3). A comparison with an analogous test previously performed in our Solar System is made.

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arXiv2013

Constraints on a MOND effect for isolated aspherical systems in deep Newtonian regime from orbital motions

Non-spherical systems described by MOND theories of modified gravity arising from generalizations of the Poisson equations are affected by a MONDian extra-quadrupolar potential ϕ_M even if they are isolated and they are in deep Newtonian regime. In general MOND theories quickly approaching Newtonian dynamics for accelerations beyond A_0, ϕ_M is proportional to a multiplicative scaling coefficient α\sim 1, while in MOND models becoming Newtonian beyond κA_0, κ>> 1, it is enhanced by κ^2. We analytically work out some orbital effects due to ϕ_M in the framework of QUMOND, and compare them with the latest observational determinations of Solar System's planetary dynamics, exoplanets and double lined spectroscopic binary stars. The current admissible range for the anomalous perihelion precession of Saturn yields |κ| <= 3.5 x 10^3, while the radial velocity of αCen AB allows to infer |κ|<= 6.2 x 10^4 (A) and |κ|<= 4.2 x 10^4 (B). In evaluating such preliminary constraints it must be recalled that QUMOND is not the nonrelativistic limit of TeVeS.

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arXiv2013

Novel considerations about the error budget of the LAGEOS-based tests of frame-dragging with GRACE geopotential models

A realistic assessment of the uncertainties in the even zonals of a given geopotential model must be made by directly comparing its coefficients with those of a wholly independent solution of superior formal accuracy. Otherwise, a favorable selective bias is introduced in the evaluation of the total error budget of the LAGEOS-based Lense-Thirring tests yielding likely too optimistic figures for it. By applying a novel approach which recently appeared in the literature, the second (L = 4) and the third (L = 6) even zonals turn out to be uncertain at a 2-3 10^-11 (L = 4) and 3-4 10^-11 (L = 6) level, respectively, yielding a total gravitational error of about 27-28%, with an upper bound of 37-39%. The results by Ries et al. themselves yield an upper bound for it of about 33%. The low-degree even zonals are not exclusively determined from the GRACE Satellite-to-Satellite Tracking (SST) range since they affect it with long-period, secular-like signatures over orbital arcs longer than one orbital period: GRACE SST is not accurately sensitive to such signals. Conversely, general relativity affects it with short-period effects as well. Thus, the issue of the a priori "imprinting" of general relativity itself in the GRACE-based models used so far remains open.

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arXiv2013

Exact expressions for the pericenter precession caused by some Dark Matter distributions and constraints on them from orbital motions in the Solar System, in the double pulsar and in the Galactic center

We analytically calculate the secular precession of the pericenter of a test particle orbiting a central body surrounded by a continuous distribution of Dark Matter (DM) by using some commonly adopted density profiles for it. We obtain exact expressions without resorting to a-priori simplifying assumptions on the orbital geometry of the test particle. Our formulas allow us to put constraints on the parameters of the DM distributions considered in several local astronomical and astrophysical scenarios, such as the Sun's planetary system, the double pulsar, and the stellar system around the supermassive black hole in Sgr A$^{\ast}$, all characterized by a wide variety of orbital configurations.

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arXiv2013

LETSGO: A spacecraft-based mission to accurately measure the solar angular momentum with frame-dragging

LETSGO (LEnse-Thirring Sun-Geo Orbiter) is a proposed space-based mission involving the use of a spacecraft moving along a highly eccentric heliocentric orbit perpendicular to the ecliptic. It aims to accurately measure some important physical properties of the Sun and to test some post-Newtonian features of its gravitational field by continuously monitoring the Earth-probe range. Preliminary sensitivity analyses show that, by assuming a cm-level accuracy in ranging to the spacecraft, it would be possible to detect, in principle, the Lense-Thirring effect on it at a 10^-3-10^-4 level over a timescale of 2 yr, while the larger Schwarzschild component of the solar gravitational field may be sensed with a relative accuracy of about 10^-8-10^-9 during the same temporal interval. The competing range perturbation due to the non-sphericity of the Sun would be a source of systematic error, but it turns out that all the three dynamical features of motion examined affect the Earth-probe range in different ways, allowing for a separation in data analyses. The high eccentricity would help in reducing the impact of the non-gravitational perturbations whose impact would certainly be severe when LETSGO would approach the Sun at just a few solar radii. Further studies should be devoted to investigate both the consequences of the non-conservative forces and the actual measurability of the effects of interest by means of extensive numerical data simulations, parameter estimations and covariance analyses. Also an alternative, fly-by configuration is worth of consideration.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2012

Local cosmological effects of the order of H in the orbital motion of a binary system

A two-body system hypothetically affected by an additional radial acceleration H v_r, where v_r is the radial velocity of the binary's proper orbital motion, would experience long-term temporal changes of both its semimajor axis a and the eccentricity e qualitatively different from any other standard competing effect for them. Contrary to what one might reasonably expect, the analytical expressions of such rates do not vanish in the limit M--> 0, where M is the mass of the primary, being independent of it. This is a general requirement that any potentially viable physical mechanism able to provide such a putative acceleration should meet. Nonetheless, if H had the same value H_0 of the Hubble parameter at present epoch, such rates of change would have magnitude close to the present-day level of accuracy in determining planetary orbital motions in our Solar System. A tension with recent observations may even be present for Mercury and Mars. However, general relativity, applied to a localized gravitationally bound binary system immersed in an expanding Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker, does not predict the existence of such a putative radial acceleration at Newtonian level. Instead, it was recently shown in literature that an acceleration of order H and directed along the velocity v of the test particle occurs at post-Newtonian level. We worked out its orbital effects finding well-behaved secular rates of change for both a and e proportional to the Schwarzschild radius r_s of the primary. Their magnitude is quite small: the rate of change of a amounts to just 20 microns per century in our Solar System. Finally, we discussed certain basic criteria of viability that modified models of gravity should generally meet when their observable effects are calculated.

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arXiv2012

Solar system constraints on f(T) gravity

We use recent observations from solar system orbital motions in order to constrain f(T) gravity. In particular, imposing a quadratic f(T) correction to the linear-in-T form, which is a good approximation for every realistic case, we extract the spherical solutions of the theory. Using these spherical solutions to describe the Sun's gravitational field, we use recently determined supplementary advances of planetary perihelia, to infer upper bounds on the allowed f(T) corrections. We find that the maximal allowed divergence of the gravitational potential in f(T) gravity from that in the teleparallel equivalent of General Relativity is of the order of 6.2 \times 10^{-10}, in the applicability region of our analysis. This is much smaller than the corresponding (significantly small too) divergence that is predicted from cosmological observations, as expected. Such a tiny allowed divergence from the linear form should be taken into account in f(T) model building.

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arXiv2012

The challenge to reliably measure the general relativistic Lense-Thirring effect with a few percent accuracy

In this paper we critically analyze the so far performed and proposed tests for measuring the general relativistic Lense-Thirring effect in the gravitational field of the Earth with some of the existing accurately tracked artificial satellites. The impact of the 2nd generation GRACE-only EIGEN-GRACE02S Earth gravity model and of the 1st CHAMP+GRACE+terrestrial gravity combined EIGEN-CG01C Earth gravity model is discussed. The role of the proposed LARES is discussed as well.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2012

Constraining the angular momentum of the Sun with planetary orbital motions and general relativity

The angular momentum of a star is an important astrophysical quantity related to its internal structure, formation and evolution. On average, helioseismology yields S = 1.92 10^41 kg m^2 s^-1 for the angular momentum of the Sun. We show how it should be possible to measure or, at least, constrain it in a near future by using the gravitomagnetic Lense-Thirring effect predicted by general relativity for the orbit of a test particle moving around a central rotating body. We also discuss the present-day situation in view of the latest determinations of the supplementary perihelion precession of Mercury.

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arXiv2012

Constraints on Galileon-induced precessions from solar system orbital motions

We use latest data from solar system planetary orbital motions to put constraints on some Galileon-induced precessional effects. Due to the Vainshtein mechanism, the Galileon-type spherically symmetric field of a monopole induces a small, screened correction proprtional to \sqrt{r} to its usual r^-1 Newtonian potential which causes a secular precession of the pericenter of a test particle. In the case of our solar system, latest data from Mars allow to constrain the magnitude of such an interaction down to α<= 0.3 level. Another Galileon-type effect which might impact solar system dynamics is due to an unscreened constant gradient induced by the peculiar motion of the Galaxy. The magnitude of such an effect, depending on the different gravitational binding energies of the Sun and the planets, is ξ<= 0.004 from the latest bounds on the supplementary perihelion precession of Saturn.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2012

Model-independent constraints on r^-3 extra-interactions from orbital motions

Long-range constraints on the AdS radius of curvature L in the Randall-Sundrum (RS) braneworld model are inferred from orbital motions of well known artificial and natural bodies. Thus, they do not rely upon more or less speculative and untested theoretical assumptions, contrary to other long-range RS tests proposed in astrophysical scenarios in which many of the phenomena adopted may depend on the system's composition, formation and dynamical history as well. The perihelion precession of Mercury and its radiotechnical ranging from the Earth yield L <= 10 - 50 km. Tighter bounds come from the perigee precession of the Moon, from which it can be inferred L <= 500-700 m. The best constraints (L <= 5 m) come from the Satellite-to-Satellite Tracking (SST) range of the GRACE A/B spacecrafts orbiting the Earth: proposed follow-on of such a mission, implying a subnm s-1 range-rate accuracy, may constrain L at \sim 10 cm level. Weaker constraints come from the double pulsar system (L <= 80 - 100 km) and from the main sequence star S2 orbiting the compact object in Sgr A* (L <= 6.2 - 8.8 AU). Such bounds on the length L, which must not necessarily be identified with the AdS radius of curvature of the RS model, naturally translate into constraints on an, e.g., universal coupling parameter K of the r^-3 interaction. GRACE yields K <= 1 10^16 m^5 s^-2.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2012

Mercury and frame-dragging in light of the MESSENGER flybys: conflict with general relativity, poor knowledge of the physical properties of the Sun, data reduction artifact, or still insufficient observations?

The Lense-Thirring precession of the longitude of perihelion of Mercury, as predicted by general relativity by using the value of the Sun's angular momentum S = 190 x 10^39 kg m^2 s^-1 from helioseismology, is -2.0 milliarcseconds per century, computed in a celestial equatorial reference frame. It disagrees at 4-σ level with the correction 0.4 +/- 0.6 milliarcseconds per century to the standard Newtonian/Einsteinian precession, provided that the latter is to be entirely attributed to frame-dragging. The supplementary precession was recently determined in a global fit with the INPOP10a ephemerides to a long planetary data record (1914-2010) including also 3 data points collected in 2008-2009 from the MESSENGER spacecraft. The INPOP10a models did not include the solar gravitomagnetic field at all, so that its signature might have partly been removed in the data reduction process. On the other hand, the Lense-Thirring precession may have been canceled to a certain extent by the competing precessions caused by small mismodeling in the quadrupole mass moment of the Sun and in the PPN parameter beta entering the Schwarzschild-like 1PN precession, both modeled in INPOP10a. On the contrary, the oblateness of Mercury itself has a negligible impact on its perihelion. The same holds for the mismodelled actions of both the largest individual asteroids and the ring of the minor asteroids. Future analysis of more observations from the currently ongoing MESSENGER mission will shed further light on such an issue which, if confirmed, might potentially challenge our present-day picture of the currently accepted laws of gravitation and/or of the physical properties of the Sun.

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arXiv2012

Constraining the electric charges of some astronomical bodies in Reissner-Nordstrom spacetimes and generic r^-2-type power-law potentials from orbital motions

We put model-independent, dynamical constraints on the net electric charge Q of some astronomical and astrophysical objects by assuming that their exterior spacetimes are described by the Reissner-Nordstroem metric, which induces an additional potential U_RN \propto Q^2 r^-2. Our results extend to other hypothetical power-law interactions inducing extra-potentials U_pert = r^-2 as well (abridged).

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arXiv2012

Orbital perturbations due to massive rings

We analytically work out the long-term orbital perturbations induced by a homogeneous circular ring of radius Rr and mass mr on the motion of a test particle in the cases (I): r > R_r and (II): r < R_r. In order to extend the validity of our analysis to the orbital configurations of, e.g., some proposed spacecraftbased mission for fundamental physics like LISA and ASTROD, of possible annuli around the supermassive black hole in Sgr A* coming from tidal disruptions of incoming gas clouds, and to the effect of artificial space debris belts around the Earth, we do not restrict ourselves to the case in which the ring and the orbit of the perturbed particle lie just in the same plane. From the corrections to the standard secular perihelion precessions, recently determined by a team of astronomers for some planets of the Solar System, we infer upper bounds on mr for various putative and known annular matter distributions of natural origin (close circumsolar ring with R_r = 0.02-0.13 au, dust ring with R_r = 1 au, minor asteroids, Trans-Neptunian Objects). We find m_r <= 1.4 10^-4 m_E (circumsolar ring with R_r = 0.02 au), m_r <= 2.6 10^-6 m_E (circumsolar ring with R_r = 0.13 au), m_r <= 8.8 10^-7 m_E (ring with R_r = 1 au), m_r <= 7.3 10^-12 M_S (asteroidal ring with R_r = 2.80 au), m_r <= 1.1 <= 10^-11 M_S (asteroidal ring with R_r = 3.14 au), m_r <= 2.0 10^-8 M_S (TNOs ring with R_r = 43 au). In principle, our analysis is valid both for baryonic and non-baryonic Dark Matter distributions.

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arXiv2012

Dynamical orbital effects of General Relativity on the satellite-to-satellite range and range-rate in the GRACE mission: a sensitivity analysis

We numerically investigate the impact of GTR on the orbital part of the satellite-to-satellite range ρand range-rate \dotρof the twin GRACE A/B spacecrafts through their dynamical equations of motion integrated in an Earth-centered frame over a time span Δt=1 d. Instead, the GTR effects connected with the propagation of the electromagnetic waves linking the spacecrafts are neglected. The present-day accuracies in measuring the GRACE biased range and range-rate are σ_ρ\sim 1-10 \mum, σ_\dotρ\sim 0.1-1 \mum s^-1; studies for a follow-on of such a mission points toward a range-rate accuracy of the order of σ_\dotρ\sim 1 nm s^-1 or better. The GTR range and range-rate effects turn out to be Δρ=80 \mum and Δ\dotρ=0.012 \mum s^-1 (Lense-Thirring), and Δρ=6000 \mum and Δ\dotρ=10 \mum s^-1 (Schwarzschild). We also compute the dynamical range and range-rate perturbations caused by the first six zonal harmonic coefficients J_L, L=2,3,4,5,6,7 of the classical multipolar expansion of the terrestrial gravitational potential in order to evaluate their aliasing impact on the relativistic effects. Conversely, we also quantitatively, and preliminarily, assess the possible a-priori \virg{imprinting} of GTR itself, not solved-for in all the GRACE-based Earth's gravity models produced so far, on the estimated values of the low degree zonals of the geopotential. The present sensitivity analysis can also be extended, in principle, to different orbital configurations in order to design a suitable dedicated mission able to accurately measure the relativistic effects considered.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2012

Lower bounds of characteristic scale of topological modification of the Newtonian gravitation

We analytically work out the long-term orbital perturbations induced by the first term of the expansion of the perturbing potential arising from the local modification of the Newton's inverse square law due to a topology R^2 x S^1 with a compactified dimension of radius R recently proposed by Floratos and Leontaris. We neither restrict to any specific spatial direction for the asymmetry axis nor to particular orbital configurations of the test particle. Thus, our results are quite general. Non-vanishing long-term variations occur for all the usual osculating Keplerian orbital elements, apart from the semimajor axis which is left unaffected. By using recent improvements in the determination of the orbital motion of Saturn from Cassini data, we preliminarily inferred R >= 4-6 kau. As a complementary approach, the putative topological effects should be explicitly modeled and solved-for with a modified version of the ephemerides dynamical models with which the same data sets should be reprocessed.

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