Measurement of gravitational and thermal effects in a liquid-actuated torsion pendulum
Journal
REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS
Date Issued
2023
Author(s)
Allocca, Annalisa
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Bassan, Massimo
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De Laurentis, Martina
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De Rosa, Rosario
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Di Fiore, Luciano
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D’Onofrio, Luca
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Errico, Luciano
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Garufi, Fabio
•
•
Hoyle, C. D.
•
•
Minenkov, Yury
•
Passeggio, Giuseppe
•
Pucacco, Giuseppe
•
Sequino, Valeria
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Tarallo, Oreste
•
Trozzo, Lucia
•
Abstract
We describe a proof-of-principle experiment aiming to investigate the inverse-square law of gravitation at the centimeter scale. The sensor is a two-stage torsion pendulum, while actuation is accomplished by a variable liquid mass. The time-varying gravitational force is related to the level of the circulating fluid in one or two containers at a short distance from the test mass, with all moving mechanical parts positioned at a large distance. We provide a description of the apparatus and present the first results. We identified a systematic effect of thermal origin, producing offsets of few fNm in torque and of about 10 pN in force. When this effect is neutralized, the measurements agree well with the predictions of simulations. We also discuss the upcoming instrument upgradations and the expected sensitivity improvement that will allow us to perform measurements with adequate accuracy to investigate the unexplored regions of the α−λ parameter space of a Yukawa-like deviation from the Newtonian potential.
Volume
94
Issue
11
Issn Identifier
0034-6748
Rights
open.access
File(s)