We describe a Galilean test of the weak equivalence principle, to be conducted during the free fall portion of a sounding rocket flight. The test of a single pair of substances is aimed at a measurement uncertainty of σ(η) 10~-16 after averaging the results of eight separate drops. The weak equivalence principle measurement is made with a set of four laser gauges that are expected to achieve 0.1 pm Hz~(-1/2). The discovery of a violation (η ≠ 0) would have profound implications for physics, astrophysics and cosmology.
展开▼
