Fifth Force Studies for a Layered Earth
Abstract
The search for a Grand Unified Theory in quantum physics has led to the postulation of a so-called 'fifth force' and the so-far-undetected particle associated with propagation of this field. Concurrently, recent geophysical evidence suggests slight deviation of measured 'gravitational' attraction from Newton's inverse square formulation. The possibility of detecting this anomalous 'force' has spawned the 'tower experiment,' in progress by the AFGL. In this experiment, deviation of measurements made at various heights on a 600-m tower from values predicted by Newtonian upward continuation of ground-based measurements is th basis for interpretation. Yukawa and Newton components of gravity over a spherically symmetric layered medium are calculated as superpositions of respective components for uniform spheres of appropriate radii and densities. Outside the surface, both components exhibit attenuation-with- distance characteristics completely describable in terms of relative Yukawa amplitude and the ratio of surface radius to Yukawa 'wavelength' (R/delta). Introduction of a parameter psi, sensitive to existence of the Yukawa component and calculable from the total field, enables study of layering effects and determination of required measurement precision. Introduction of lateral inhomogeneities exposes limitations of the psi-parameter, layered-sphere approach and suggests alternate possibilities. Keywords: Inverse square law; Gravitation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 13, 1987
- Accession Number
- ADA206888
Entities
People
- Richard C. Walker
Organizations
- Air Force Research Laboratory