No full-text available
To read the full-text of this research,
you can request a copy directly from the author.
An experimental reexamination of Faradayan electrogravitational induction
Abstract
Motivated by a reexamination of Faraday's conjectures and experiments on electrogravitational induction of 130 years ago, a new experimental approach to the exploration of such hypothetical coupling is suggested. It consists of sharply accelerating a metal sample with a mass of the order of 103 g and checking to see if a transient effective electric charge is induced in the sample during the acceleration-as is expected on the basis of the Faraday electrogravitational induction hypothesis. Apparatus capable of discriminating electrogravitational induction effects to several orders of magnitude greater accuracy than hitherto achieved is described. The results of such an experiment, in which signals conforming to expectation are obtained, are reported. Tests that appear to rule out conventional charge generation mechanisms as the source of the observed signals are considered. Several other experiments where one might expect electrogravitational induction effects to manifest themselves, especially in the muon magnetic moment, are considered.
... 87 He had to choose between Blackett's rotating acceleration and Faraday's translational acceleration of masses. 88 The second option seemed to be easier to perform and offered higher precision. Woodward let metal samples approximately 1 kg in mass fall on an impact plate and observed whether a transient ''effective'' electric charge was induced in the mass during acceleration, as Faraday supposed. ...
Einstein’s life-long effort to develop a theory that unifies gravitation and electromagnetism was not a purely theoretical enterprise. The technical environment of a gyrocompass factory triggered his search for a novel connection between the rotation of an electrically uncharged body and its magnetic field. The dimensional equality of the electric unit charge and the mass of a body multiplied by the square root of the gravitational constant hinted at a nonsensical electric charge, to which he gave the name “ghost charge.” He felt that he found a fundamental unity of gravitating mass and electricity, a hitherto undiscovered law of nature. Two physicists offered to assist him in finding evidence of this peculiar electric charge. Peter Pringsheim performed experiments with deionized gases and Teodor Schlomka made measurements of the earth’s magnetic field from balloons and airplanes; Schlomka also executed a thorough literature search and placed Einstein’s efforts in their historical context.
... The idea that the gravitational and electromagnetic fields might be inductively coupled is not new since it was first proposed by Faraday. The reader interested by the subject can consult the experimental work of J. F. Woodward (173,174). However, we refute theirs interpretations concerning the existence of such an effect. ...
We review the application of Newton's third law in all branches of physics, namely: special relativity, electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, circuit and antenna theory. Until now, there is no experimental evidence showing that Newton's third law has ever been violated in classical physics. However, in both classical physics and in special relativity theory this law is violated for different reasons. The violation of this law implies consequences that can be tested experimentally, namely a charged conductor at rest in the Earth reference frame can set itself in motion and accelerate its center of mass or rotate without external help. We review several experiments with conductors charged with a high voltage which show these effects.
One obtains a Maxwell-like structure of gravitation by applying the weak-field approximation to the well accepted theory of general relativity or by extending Newton's laws to time-dependent systems. This splits gravity in two parts, namely a gravitoelectric and gravitomagnetic (or cogravitational) one. Due to the obtained similar structure between gravitation and electromagnetism, one can express one field by the other one using a coupling constant depending on the mass to charge ratio of the field source. Calculations of induced gravitational fields using state-of-the-art fusion plasmas reach only accelerator threshold values for laboratory testing. Possible amplification mechanisms are mentioned in the literature and need to be explored. The possibility of using the principle of equivalence in the weak field approximation to induce non-Newtonian gravitational fields and the influence of electric charge on the free fall of bodies are also investigated, leading to some additional experimental recommendations.
It is well known that since the turn of the century, and particularly after the development of general relativity theory by Einstein, many attempts have been made to construct a unitary theory of matter and all of its interactions. This work, for the most part, was carried on by a handful of physicists (including Einstein) and was not considered to be in the mainstream of the advancement of physical understanding. In part this was due to a demonstrable lack of success in accomplishing this goal by those so engaged. Particularly intractable was (and is) the problem of interrelating the gravitational and electromagnetic fields in a physically nontrival way. During the past decade or so enthusiasm among physicists for the possible unification of our theoretical understanding of fundamental phenomena has been growing. The work that has inspired this shift in attitude is the ostensibly successful unification of the weak and electromagnetic interactions in the non-Abelian gauge theory of Weinberg and Salam, and the experimental confirmation of key predictions of this theory. The strong and gravitational interactions remain to be incorporated into a fully articulated theory, but many seem confident that this may be accomplished within the foreseeable future. For example, Freedman and van Nieuwenhuizen have recently remarked In the past 50 years remarkable progress has been made in identifying the elementary particles of matter and in understanding the interactions between them. Of course, many problems remain to be solved; two of the most fundamental ones concern gravitation. First, it is not understood how gravitation is related to the other fundamental forces. Second, there is no workable theory of gravitation that is consistent with the principles of quantum mechanics. Recently a new theory of gravitation called supergravity has led to new ideas on both these problems. It may represent a step toward solving them.1
Presented in this Resource Letter is an annotated, selected bibliography of the literature on the various measurements of Newtonian gravitation that have been made over the past 2 centuries. The focus is on the unusual variety of effects for which Newtonian gravitation has been tested, as well as on the care that has gone into the determination of the absolute value of G. The letter E after an item indicates elementary level or material of general interest to persons becoming informed in the field. The letter I, for intermediate level, indicates material of somewhat more specialized nature; and the letter A indicates rather specialized or advanced material. An asterisk (*) indicates those articles to be included in an accompanying Reprint Book.
During the past 20 years, there has been renewed interest in Newtonian gravity and, in particular, on the constancy of the Newtonian gravitational constant, G, in space and time. Curiosity alone has provided the classical motivation for studies of this very weak force. However, the push towards a unified field theory is now beginning to drive the development of new ways of measuring G precisely. Reviewed here is the status of our knowledge of the absolute value of G, searches for couplings of gravity to other forces, and measurements of the dependency of G on various physical quantities and parameters.
The Newtonian Gravitational Constant, G, has probably been measured more often but, interestingly, with less precision than any other physical constant of fundamental importance. In an effort that has spanned more than a century to connect gravitation to the other forces of nature, over 200 experiments on G have been completed and reported; but many of them have not been reported in what would now be considered to be the open literature. This paper is a third, more complete attempt to carry MacKenzie's and Poynting's bibliographies forward from the 1800's to the present; and thereby include as many as possible of the experimental results on G that have been obtained since 1900.
The Faradayan hypothesis of inductive coupling of the electromagnetic and gravitational fields is briefly discussed. An experiment designed to test the hypothesis wherein samples are spun to see if any electrogravitational charge is induced is described. Results of the experiment are reported. They imply the induction of a charge density * for spinning samples that behaves as *=ma, where m is the mass density of an element of matter experiencing an acceleration a, and is the coupling coefficient for the hypothetical electrogravitational induction effect. In this experiment, is found to have the value(9.63.3)10
–13
statcoulombs/dyne. Tests that seem to rule out explanations of the observed charges in terms of conventional charging mechanisms are considered.
As a Bose condensate, superconductors provide novel conditions for revisiting previously proposed couplings between electromagnetism and gravity. Strong variations in Cooper pair density, large conductivity and low magnetic permeability define superconductive and degenerate condensates without the traditional density limits imposed by the Fermi energy (∼ 10−6 g cm3). Recent experiments have reported anomalous weight loss for a test mass suspended above a rotating type II, YBCO superconductor, with the percentage change (0.05–2.1%) independent of the test mass' chemical composition and diamagnetic properties. A variation of 5 parts per 104 was reported above a stationary (non-rotating) superconductor. In experiments using a sensitive gravimeter, bulk YBCO superconductors were stably levitated in a DC magnetic field. Changes in acceleration were measured to be less than 2 parts in 108 of the normal gravitational acceleration. This result puts new limits on the strength and range of the proposed coupling between static superconductors and gravity.
One obtains a Maxwell-like structure of gravitation by applying the weak-field approximation to the well accepted theory of general relativity or by extending Newton's laws to time-dependent systems. This splits gravity in two parts, namely a gravitoelectric and gravitomagnetic (or cogravitational) one. Due to the obtained similar structure between gravitation and electromagnetism, one can express one field by the other one using a coupling constant depending on the mass to charge ratio of the field source. Calculations of induced gravitational fields using state-of-the-art fusion plasmas reach only accelerator threshold values for laboratory testing. Possible amplification mechanisms are mentioned in the literature and need to be explored. The possibility of using the principle of equivalence in the weak field approximation to induce non-Newtonian gravitational fields and the influence of electric charge on the free fall of bodies are also investigated, leading to some additional experimental recommendations.
Specialist Periodical Reports provide systematic and detailed review coverage of progress in the major areas of chemical research. Written by experts in their specialist fields the series creates a unique service for the active research chemist, supplying regular critical in-depth accounts of progress in particular areas of chemistry. For over 80 years the Royal Society of Chemistry and its predecessor, the Chemical Society, have been publishing reports charting developments in chemistry, which originally took the form of Annual Reports. However, by 1967 the whole spectrum of chemistry could no longer be contained within one volume and the series Specialist Periodical Reports was born. The Annual Reports themselves still existed but were divided into two, and subsequently three, volumes covering Inorganic, Organic and Physical Chemistry. For more general coverage of the highlights in chemistry they remain a 'must'. Since that time the SPR series has altered according to the fluctuating degree of activity in various fields of chemistry. Some titles have remained unchanged, while others have altered their emphasis along with their titles; some have been combined under a new name whereas others have had to be discontinued.
A search was made for a possible variation in the inertial mass of platinum with respect to that of magnesium produced by the application of a centrifugal field. No variation was found within an experimental uncertainty of 4 parts in 105 due to the application of a centrifugal field of 1.5×105g or within 3 parts in 1010 per g.
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.4.165
Summary We have studied the effect of gravitational waves on electromagnetic propagation in the physical optics approximation; we
have found that, owing to the transversal character of the former, this effect has a local character (i.e. it does not increase with the distance travelled). Nonlocal perturbations might occur if the gravitational waves had a longitudinal
component, but even in this case the effect is negligible, due to the fact that both fields propagate with the same speed.
The object of the experiments related in this paper, is to trace the source of the electricity which accompanies the issue of steam of high pressure from the vessels in which it is contained. By means of a suitable apparatus, which the author describes and delineates, he found that electricity is never excited by the passage of pure steam, and is manifested only when water is at the same time present; and hence he concludes that it is altogether the effect of the friction of globules of water against the sides of the opening, or against the substances opposed to its passage, as the water is rapidly moved onwards by the current of steam. Accordingly it was found to be increased in quantity by increasing the pressure and impelling force of the steam. The immediate effect of this friction was, in all cases, to render the steam or water positive, and the solids, of whatever nature they might be, negative. In certain circumstances, however, as when a wire is placed in the current of steam at some distance from the orifice whence it has issued, the solid exhibits the positive electricity already acquired by the steam, and of which it is then merely the recipient and the conductor. In like manner, the results may be greatly modified by the shape, the nature, and the temperature of the passages through which the steam is forced. Heat, by preventing the condensation of the steam into water, likewise prevents the evolution of electricity, which again speedily appears by cooling the passages so as to restore the water which is necessary for the production of that effect. The phenomenon of the evolution of electricity in these circumstances is dependent also on the quality of the fluid in motion, more especially in relation to its conducting power. Water will not excite electricity unless it be pure ; the addition to it of any soluble salt or acid, even in minute quantity, is sufficient to destroy this property. The addition of oil of turpentine, on the other hand, occasions the development of electricity of an opposite kind to that which is excited by water ; and this the author explains by the particles or minute globules of the water having each received a coating of oil in the form of a thin film, so that the friction takes place only between that external film and the solids, along the surface of which the globules are carried. A similar, but a more permanent effect is produced by the presence of olive oil, which is not, like oil of turpentine, subject to rapid dissipation. Similar results were obtained when a stream of compressed air was substituted for steam in these experiments. When moisture was present, the solid exhibited negative, and the stream of air positive electricity ; but when the air was perfectly dry, no electricity of any kind was apparent. The author concludes with an account of some experiments in which dry powders of various kinds were placed in the current of air; the results differed according to the nature of the substances employed, and other circumstances.
The discovery by Babcock of the magnetism of certain rapidly rotating stars led me to study the hypothesis, first clearly discussed by Schuster and by Wilson, that the magnetism of rotating astronomical bodies might be due to some new and general property of matter. The well-known theoretical difficulties attending such a view were matched by the difficulty of finding a quantitative explanation of even the earth’s magnetic field in terms of the known laws of physics. A detailed study of the possibility of making a direct test of the Schuster-Wilson hypothesis, by measuring the very small magnetic field of the order of 10 ⁻⁹ G which would be produced by a rotating body of reasonable size in the laboratory, led me to conclude that the experiment would perhaps be possible but would certainly be exceedingly difficult. However, a much easier but still worth-while subsidiary experiment presented itself. This was to test whether a massive body, in fact a 10 x 10 cm gold cylinder, at rest in the laboratory and so rotating with the earth, would appear to an observer, also rotating with the earth, to produce a weak magnetic field with a magnitude of the order of 10 ⁻⁸ G. That such a field might exist is a plausible deduction from a particular form of the Schuster-Wilson hypothesis considered in some detail by Runcorn and by Chapman. This paper describes the design, construction and use of a magnetometer with which this ‘static-body experiment’ was carried out. Since few detailed studies of the design of sensitive magnetometers to measure steady fields appear to have been made since the days of the classical experiments of Rowland and of Eichenwald, I found it necessary to investigate the theory and use of such an instrument in considerable detail. The bulk of this paper, that is, §§ 2 to 5, is concerned with this instrumental study. The actual static-body experiment is described in § 6, and it is there shown that no such field as is predicted by the modified Schuster-Wilson hypothesis is found. This result is in satisfactory agreement with the independent refutation of the hypothesis by the measurements by Runcorn and colleagues of the magnetic field of the earth underground. When the magnetometer was completed it was found to be very suitable for the measurement of the remanent magnetism of weakly magnetized specimens, in particular certain sedimentary rocks.
The Maxwell equations for gravitational fields previously assumed by Sciama are derived from elementary considerations. The
Lagrangian for a gravitating mass in a non-inertial coordinate system yields equations of motion leading to force definitions
for a gravitational field intensity and a gravitational induction field. The non-inertial velocity of the coordinate system
plays the role of a vector potential contributing to the generalized momenta of bodies moving in the system. A Lagrangian
density constructed from the force-defined fields then lead to the source definitions of gravitational fields. It is found
that positive field energy densities require repulsive gravitational forces, whereas attractive forces imply the violation
of the conservation of energy. This paradox is resolved by representing gravitational quantities as pure-imaginary entities.
Thus characterized, the equations which define gravitational fields become identical to Maxwell's equations but are pure-imaginary.
This suggests a combined representation for gravitational and electromagnetic fields which, in covariant form, indicates both
the well known equivalence of mass and energy and a possible equivalence of charge and energy. From orthogonality considerations,
it is conjectured that this latter energy is gravitational, and that, whereas gravitational fields interact with electromagnetic
energy, electromagnetic fields interact with gravitational energy.
A comprehensive description of the muon storage ring and its operation is given, and the final results of the experiment are presented and discussed. The anomalous magnetic moments of positive and negative muons are found to be aμ+ = 1165911(11) × 10−9 and aμ− = 1165937(12) × 10−9 giving an average value for muons of aμ = 1165924(8.5) × 10−9. The electric dipole moments were also measured with the results Dμ+= (8.6 ± 4.5) × 10−9e · cm and Dμ− = (0.8 ± 4.3) × 10−19e · cm. Under the assumption of the CPT theorem these yield a weighted average of Dμ = (3.7 ± 3.4) × 10−19e · cm. Finally the time transformation of special relativity is shown to be valid to (0.8 ± 0.7) × 10−3 at γ ≅ 29.3. All the errors quoted here are one standard deviation and contain both statistical and systematic effects.
Nature,160, 746; see also Fuchs
- H Tzu
- H.-J Treder
- W Yourgrau
The Electrodynamics of Fluids
- W Hughes
Diary (G. Bell and Sons
- M Faraday
- M. Faraday
- H Wilson
- H. Wilson