Article

# A Measurement of Newton's Gravitational Constant

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Institute for Geophysics, University of Zurich, Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
(Impact Factor: 4.64). 10/2006; 74(8). DOI: 10.1103/PHYSREVD.74.082001
Source: arXiv

ABSTRACT

A precision measurement of the gravitational constant $G$ has been made using a beam balance. Special attention has been given to determining the calibration, the effect of a possible nonlinearity of the balance and the zero-point variation of the balance. The equipment, the measurements and the analysis are described in detail. The value obtained for G is 6.674252(109)(54) 10^{-11} m3 kg-1 s-2. The relative statistical and systematic uncertainties of this result are 16.3 10^{-6} and 8.1 10^{-6}, respectively.

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Available from: Stephan Schlamminger, Apr 19, 2014
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• "In a first experiment, water was used; later, the water was replaced with mercury yielding a much larger signal. The Zürich big G experiment ended officially in 2006, when a final report [6] on the experiment was published. The relevant details of the experiment have been summarized in the final report, two theses [7] [8] and several shorter reports [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] "
##### Article: Reflections on a Measurement of the Gravitational Constant Using a Beam Balance and 13 Tons of Mercury
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ABSTRACT: In 2006, a final result of a measurement of the gravitational constant $G$ performed by researchers at the University of Z\"urich was published. A value of $G=6.674\,252(122)\times 10^{-11}\,\mbox{m}^3\,\mbox{kg}^{-1}\,\mbox{s}^{-2}$ was obtained after an experimental effort that lasted over one decade. Here, we briefly summarize the measurement and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of this approach.
Full-text · Article · Jul 2014 · Philosophical Transactions of The Royal Society A Mathematical Physical and Engineering Sciences
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• "From this point of view, the realization of conceptually different experiments can help to identify still hidden systematic effects and therefore improve the confidence in the final result. With a few exceptions [30] [32] [33], most experiments were performed using conceptually similar schemes based on suspended macroscopic masses as probes and torsion balances or pendula as detectors. In our experiment, freely falling atoms act as probes of the gravitational field and an atom interferometry scheme is used to measure the effect of nearby well-characterized source masses. "
##### Article: Sensitive Gravity-Gradiometry with Atom Interferometry: Progress Towards an Improved Determination of the Gravitational Constant
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ABSTRACT: We present here the current status of our high-sensitivity gravity-gradiometer based on atom interferometry. In our apparatus, two clouds of laser-cooled rubidium atoms are launched in a fountain configuration and simultaneously interrogated by a Raman-pulse interferometry sequence. The system has recently been upgraded and its stability re-evaluated. We also discuss the recent progress of the experiment towards a precise determination of the Newtonian gravitational constant G. The signal-to-noise ratio and the long-term stability of the gravity gradiometer demonstrated interesting perspectives for pushing the G measurement precision below the 100 ppm level.
Full-text · Article · Sep 2010 · New Journal of Physics
• ##### Conference Paper: A determination of Newton's gravitational constant using the MSLtorsion balance
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ABSTRACT: We will describe the results of a new determination of the Newtonian gravitational constant (G) made since our last value reported at the 1994 CPEM. At the 1996 CEPM we reported a number of difficulties in completing the measurement in progress at that time. We have now solved all of these problems and at the time of writing believe that we will be in a position to report an improved value of G. The paper will briefly report the differences in the measurement since the last CPEM and present our latest result and its uncertainty
No preview · Conference Paper · Aug 1998
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