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Sub-Microarcsecond Astrometry and New Horizons in Relativistic Gravitational Physics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 April 2016

Sergei M. Kopeikin  and
Carl R. Gwinn
Sergei M. Kopeikin
Affiliation:
Department of Physics and Astronomy, 223 Physics Building, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
Carl R. Gwinn
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, Broida Hall, University of Californiaat Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA

Abstract

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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. We 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.

Type
Section 3. Relativistic Considerations
Information
International Astronomical Union Colloquium , Volume 180: Towards Models and Constants for Sub-Microarcsecond Astrometry , March 2000 , pp. 303 - 307
Copyright
Copyright © US Naval Observatory 2000

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