Sub-Microarcsecond Astrometry and New Horizons in Relativistic Gravitational Physics
Abstract
Attaining the limit of sub-microarcsecond optical resolution will completely revolutionize fundamental astrometry by merging it with relativistic gravitational physics. Beyond the sub-microarcsecond threshold, one will meet in the sky a new population of physical phenomena caused by primordial gravitational waves from the early universe and/or different localized astronomical sources, space-time topological defects, moving gravitational lenses, time variability of gravitational fields of the solar system and binary stars, and many others. Adequate physical interpretation of these yet undetectable sub-microarcsecond phenomena cannot be achieved on the ground of the "standard" post-Newtonian approach (PNA), which is valid only in the near-zone of astronomical objects having a time-dependent gravitational field. The authors describe a new, post-Minkowskian relativistic approach for modeling astrometric observations having sub-microarcsecond precision, and briefly discuss the light propagation effects caused by gravitational waves and other phenomena related to time-dependent gravitational fields. The domain of applicability of the PNA in relativistic space astrometry is outlined explicitly.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA435883
Entities
People
- Carl R. Gwinn
- Sergei M. Kopeikin