Date:
Thu, 30/12/201016:00-17:00
Prof. Sasha Buchman from Stanford on the STAR project
invited by Tsvi
Title: The Space-Time Asymmetry Research (STAR) program
Abstract:
Stanford University, NASA Ames, and international partners propose the Space-Time
Asymmetry Research (STAR) program, a series of three Science and Technology Development Missions, which will probe the fundamental relationships between space, time and gravity. What is the nature of space-time? Is space truly isotropic? Is the speed of light truly isotropic? If not, what is its direction and location dependency? What are the answers beyond Einstein? How will gravity and the standard model ultimately be combined?
The first mission, STAR-1, will measure the absolute anisotropy of the velocity of light
to one part in 1017, derive the Kennedy-Thorndike (KT) coefficient to 7x10-10 (200-fold
improvement over modern ground measurements), derive the Michelson-Morley (MM)
coefficient to 10-11 (confirming the ground measurements), and derive the coefficients of Lorentz violation in the Standard Model Extension (SME), in the range 7x10-17 to 10-13 (an order of magnitude improvement over ground measurements). The follow-on missions will achieve a factor of 100 higher sensitivities.
The core instruments are high stability optical cavities and high a accuracy C2H2 clock at 1550 nm.. STAR-1 is accomplished with a fully redundant instrument flown on a standard bus, spin-stabilized spacecraft with a mission lifetime of two years. Spacecraft and instrument have a total mass of less than 180 kg and consume less than 200 W of power. STAR-1 would launch in 2015 as a secondary payload in a 650 km, sun-synchronous orbit.
We describe the STAR-1 mission in detail and the STAR series in general, with a
focus on how each mission will build on the development and success of the previous
missions, methodically enhancing both the capabilities of the STAR instrument suite and our understanding of this important field. By coupling state-of-the-art scientific instrumentation with proven and cost-effective small satellite technology in an environment designed for research and leadership participation by university students the STAR program will bring new answers to some of the most important physics questions of our time - questions that have faced physicists
for over 100 years.
invited by Tsvi
Title: The Space-Time Asymmetry Research (STAR) program
Abstract:
Stanford University, NASA Ames, and international partners propose the Space-Time
Asymmetry Research (STAR) program, a series of three Science and Technology Development Missions, which will probe the fundamental relationships between space, time and gravity. What is the nature of space-time? Is space truly isotropic? Is the speed of light truly isotropic? If not, what is its direction and location dependency? What are the answers beyond Einstein? How will gravity and the standard model ultimately be combined?
The first mission, STAR-1, will measure the absolute anisotropy of the velocity of light
to one part in 1017, derive the Kennedy-Thorndike (KT) coefficient to 7x10-10 (200-fold
improvement over modern ground measurements), derive the Michelson-Morley (MM)
coefficient to 10-11 (confirming the ground measurements), and derive the coefficients of Lorentz violation in the Standard Model Extension (SME), in the range 7x10-17 to 10-13 (an order of magnitude improvement over ground measurements). The follow-on missions will achieve a factor of 100 higher sensitivities.
The core instruments are high stability optical cavities and high a accuracy C2H2 clock at 1550 nm.. STAR-1 is accomplished with a fully redundant instrument flown on a standard bus, spin-stabilized spacecraft with a mission lifetime of two years. Spacecraft and instrument have a total mass of less than 180 kg and consume less than 200 W of power. STAR-1 would launch in 2015 as a secondary payload in a 650 km, sun-synchronous orbit.
We describe the STAR-1 mission in detail and the STAR series in general, with a
focus on how each mission will build on the development and success of the previous
missions, methodically enhancing both the capabilities of the STAR instrument suite and our understanding of this important field. By coupling state-of-the-art scientific instrumentation with proven and cost-effective small satellite technology in an environment designed for research and leadership participation by university students the STAR program will bring new answers to some of the most important physics questions of our time - questions that have faced physicists
for over 100 years.