Frontiers in Relativistic Celestial Mechanics. Volume 2: Applications and Experiments

Relativistic celestial mechanics – investigating the motion celestial bodies under the influence of general relativity – is a major tool of modern experimental gravitational physics. With a wide range of prominent authors from the field, this two-volume series consists of reviews on a multitude of advanced topics in the area of relativistic celestial mechanics – starting from more classical topics such as the regime of asymptotically-flat spacetime, light propagation and celestial ephemerides, but also including its role in cosmology and alternative theories of gravity as well as modern experiments in this area. This second volume of a two-volume series covers applications of the theory as well as experimental verifications. From tools to determine light travel times in curved space-time to laser ranging between earth and moon and between satellites, and impacts on the definition of time scales and clock comparison techniques, a variety of effects is discussed. On the occasion of his 80-th birthday, these two volumes honor V. A. Brumberg – one of the pioneers in modern relativistic celestial mechanics. Contributions include: J. Simon, A. Fienga: Victor Brumberg and the French school of analytical celestial mechanics T. Fukushima: Elliptic functions and elliptic integrals for celestial mechanics and dynamical astronomy P. Teyssandier: New tools for determining the light travel time in static, spherically symmetric spacetimes beyond the order G 2 J. Müller, L. Biskupek, F. Hofmann and E. Mai: Lunar laser ranging and relativity N. Wex: Testing relativistic celestial mechanics with radio pulsars I. Ciufolini et al.: Dragging of inertial frames, fundamental physics, and satellite laser ranging G. Petit, P. Wolf, P. Delva: Atomic time, clocks, and clock comparisons in relativistic spacetime: a review [from Preface]A key figure of relativistic celestial mechanics of the second half of twentieth century has been Victor A. Brumberg, a scholar who presently lives in Boston (USA) and who is still active in research. Victor A. Brumberg has made a significant contribution to general relativity and the science of relativistic planetary ephemerides of the Solar System. He mentored and inspired many researchers around the globe (including the editor of this book) to start working in the field of relativistic celestial mechanics. The very term “relativistic celestial mechanics” was introduced by Victor. A. Brumberg in his famous monograph “Relativistic Celestial Mechanics” published in 1972 by Nauka (Science) – the main scientific publisher of the USSR – in Moscow. For next two decades this monograph remained the most authoritative reference and the source of invaluable information for researchers working on relativistic equations of motion and experimental testing of general relativity. Brumberg received the 2008 Brower Award from the Division of Dynamic Astronomy of the American Astronomical Society. The Brouwer Award was established to recognize outstanding contributions in the field of dynamical astronomy, including celestial mechanics, astrometry, geophysics, stellar systems, galactic, and extragalactic dynamics. Victor Brumberg and the French school of analytical celestial mechanics / J. Simon, A. Fienga Elliptic functions and elliptic integrals for celestial mechanics and dynamical astronomy / T. Fukushima New tools for determining the light travel time in static, spherically symmetric spacetimes beyond the order G2 / P. Teyssandier Lunar laser ranging and relativity / J. Müller, L. Biskupek, F. Hofmann and E. Mai Testing relativistic celestial mechanics with radio pulsars / N. Wex Dragging of inertial frames, fundamental physics, and satellite laser ranging / I. Ciufolini and others Atomic time, clocks, and clock comparisons in relativistic spacetime: a review / G. Petit, P. Wolf, P. Delva. Frontiers in Relativistic Celestial Mechanics Front Cover Title Page © 2014 Walter de Gruyter GmbH Contents List of figures List of tables Preface New tools for determining the light travel time in static, spherically symmetric spacetimes beyond the order G2 Testing relativistic gravity with radio pulsars Lunar laser ranging and relativity Dragging of inertial frames, fundamental physics, and satellite laser ranging Elliptic functions and elliptic integrals for celestial mechanics and dynamical astronomy Victor Brumberg and the French school of analytical celestial mechanics Atomic time, clocks, and clock comparisons in relativistic spacetime: a review Index With a wide range of prominent authors from the field of relativistic celestial mechanics, this first volume of a two-volume series consists of reviews on a multitude of advanced topics in the area, covering both classical as well as modern developments, while focusing on applications and experiments. On the occasion of his 80-th birthday this volume honors V.A. Brumberg - one of the pioneers in modern relativistic celestial mechanics Consists of reviews on a multitude of advanced topics in the area, covering both classical as well as modern developments, while focusing on theoretical foundations. v. 1. Theory v. 2. Applications and experiments