Speaker
Description
The GEE Lab at Washington University in St. Louis has been operating a prototype long-period torsion balance in a search for violations of Einstein's Equivalence Principle (EEP). We have continuously monitored the angular orientation of the torsion balance for over 115 days, resulting in a rich set of data. From this, we have extracted signals on the differential acceleration of two test bodies made of Al and Si02 in the Galactic gravitational field. The experience we have gained from this experiment suggest the need for improved thermal and magnetic shielding; it also gives us confidence that long-period torsion balances have the ability to significantly improve the bounds on violation of EEP. In this talk we will describe our instrument, analysis procedure, and how these experiences can be used to improve our next generation torsion balance.
