Testing gravity with interstellar precursor missions
The result's identifiers
Result code in IS VaVaI
<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00216208%3A11320%2F19%3A10406395" target="_blank" >RIV/00216208:11320/19:10406395 - isvavai.cz</a>
Result on the web
<a href="https://verso.is.cuni.cz/pub/verso.fpl?fname=obd_publikace_handle&handle=U~TsUHmGsn" target="_blank" >https://verso.is.cuni.cz/pub/verso.fpl?fname=obd_publikace_handle&handle=U~TsUHmGsn</a>
DOI - Digital Object Identifier
<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stz1508" target="_blank" >10.1093/mnras/stz1508</a>
Alternative languages
Result language
angličtina
Original language name
Testing gravity with interstellar precursor missions
Original language description
We consider how the trajectory of an interstellar precursor mission would be affected by the gravity of the Sun in Newtonian and Milgromian dynamics (MOND). The solar gravity is approximate to 50 per cent stronger in MOND beyond a distance of approximate to 7000 astronomical units, the Sun's MOND radius. A spacecraft travelling at 0.01 of light speed reaches this distance after 11.1 years. We show that the extra gravity in MOND causes an anomalous deceleration that reduces its radial velocity by approximate to 3 cms(-1) and the two-way light travel time from the inner Solar System by approximate to 0.1 s after 20 years. A distinctive signature of MOND is that the gravity from the Sun is not directly towards it. This is due to the nonlinear nature of MOND and the external gravitational field from the rest of the Galaxy, which we self-consistently include in our calculations. As a result, the sky position of the spacecraft would deviate by up to 0.2 mas over 20 years. This deviation is always in the plane containing the spacecraft trajectory and the direction towards the Galactic centre. By launching spacecraft in different directions, it is possible to test the characteristic pattern of angular deviations expected in MOND. This would minimize the chance that any detected anomalies are caused by other processes like drag from the interstellar medium. Such confounding factors could also be mitigated using an onboard accelerometer to measure non-gravitational forces. We briefly discuss how the gravity theories could be conclusively distinguished using a Cavendish-style active gravitational experiment beyond the Sun's MOND radius.
Czech name
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Czech description
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Classification
Type
J<sub>imp</sub> - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database
CEP classification
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OECD FORD branch
10308 - Astronomy (including astrophysics,space science)
Result continuities
Project
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Continuities
I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace
Others
Publication year
2019
Confidentiality
S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů
Data specific for result type
Name of the periodical
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
ISSN
0035-8711
e-ISSN
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Volume of the periodical
487
Issue of the periodical within the volume
2
Country of publishing house
GB - UNITED KINGDOM
Number of pages
8
Pages from-to
2665-2672
UT code for WoS article
000474919700082
EID of the result in the Scopus database
2-s2.0-85071188257