Abstract
This thesis describes the development of a torsion balance experiment designed to test Einstein's equivalence principle with unprecedented sensitivity, while also taking a novel approach to directly observe the normal mode torsional oscillations of the Earth. Accordingly, a model of the signal expected from a potential equivalence principle violation has been developed, as well as a multi-slit auto-collimating optical lever which possesses a resolution on the order of a nanoradian and a range of observation of 10 milliradians and is used to monitor the torsion balance. A torsion balance with a natural torsional frequency of ~104 Hz, signi_cantly below the frequency of the longest of the Earth's normal modes, was designed, built, and operated in a remote laboratory at Washington University's Tyson Research Center. More than 1800 hours of data was collected and used to evaluate the performance of this prototype instrument and characterize the conditions in the Tyson laboratory.
Committee Chair
Ramanath Cowsik
Committee Members
Martin H. Israel, Francesc Ferrer, Sndor J. Kovcs, Henric Krawczynski,
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Author's Department
Physics
Document Type
Dissertation
Date of Award
Summer 8-15-2016
Language
English (en)
DOI
https://doi.org/10.7936/K7GH9G73
Author's ORCID
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4352-3827
Recommended Citation
Abercrombie, Michael David, "Development of a Long-Period Torsion Balance for Tests of Einstein's Equivalence Principle and a Search for Normal Mode Torsional Oscillations of the Earth" (2016). Arts & Sciences Theses and Dissertations. 803.
The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.7936/K7GH9G73
Comments
Permanent URL: https://doi.org/10.7936/K7GH9G73