Astrometric detection feasibility of gravitational effects of quantum vacuum

Mario Gai (1) , Alberto Vecchiato (1)

1 Astrometry

This work analyzes in some detail the feasibility of testing with astrometric measurements the hypothesis that Quantum Vacuum can have gravitational effects, as suggested in a series of recent papers ([3, 6, 5]). In particular, the possibility of detecting an excess shift of the longitude of the pericenter in the orbit of the trans-neptunian system UX25 and its satellite is investigated. The excess shift which might be experimented by the orbit of the satellite was estimated, under reasonable working hypothesis, to be about 0:23 arcsec per orbit. Several observing scenarios are explored here, including those using conventional and adaptive optics telescopes from ground, and some spaceborne telescopes.

Mots clés: Physical data and processes: Gravitation; Astronomical instrumentation; methods and techniques: Techniques: high angular resolution; Astrometry and celestial mechanics: Astrometry; Kuiper belt objects: individual: UX25; Cosmology: dark matter; dark energy; inflation

Domaines: Instrumentation et méthodes pour l'astrophysique [astro-ph.IM]; Instrumentation et méthodes pour l'astrophysique [astro-ph.IM]

Mario Gai, Alberto Vecchiato. Astrometric detection feasibility of gravitational effects of quantum vacuum. 2014. ⟨hal-01005801v2⟩