Reply to “A comment on “A test of general relativity using the LARES and LAGEOS satellites and a GRACE Earth gravity model, by I. Ciufolini et al.””

Abstract

In 2016, we published “A test of general relativity using the LARES and LAGEOS satellites and a GRACE Earth’s gravity model. Measurement of Earth’s dragging of inertial frames [ 1 ]”, a measurement of frame-dragging, a fundamental prediction of Einstein’s theory of General Relativity, using the laser-ranged satellites LARES, LAGEOS and LAGEOS 2. The formal error, or precision, of our test was about 0.2% of frame-dragging, whereas the systematic error was estimated to be about 5%. In the 2017 paper “A comment on “A test of general relativity using the LARES and LAGEOS satellites and a GRACE Earth’s gravity model by I. Ciufolini et al.”” by L. Iorio [ 2 ] (called I2017 in the following), it was incorrectly claimed that, when comparing different Earth’s gravity field models, the systematic error in our test due to the Earth’s even zonal harmonics of degree 6, 8, 10 could be as large as 15%, 6% and 36%, respectively. Furthermore, I2017 contains other, also incorrect, claims about the number of necessary significant decimal digits of the coefficients used in our test (claimed to be nine), in order to eliminate the largest uncertainties in the even zonals of degree 2 and 4, and about the non-repeatability of our test. Here we analyze and rebut those claims in I2017.

Gravity lens critical test for gravity constants and dark sector

“…The models proposed to describe the dark energy and dark matter observations are being constrained by means of those tests. The weak-field General Relativity is continuously being tested in ever increasing accuracy [3,4] including the frame-dragging measurements with laser ranging satellites [5].…”

The cosmological constant derived via galaxy groups and clusters

“…Regarding the Λ-constant, including in the context of the local Universe within equilibria concepts, see [22,23,24,25]. Among other means for probing weak-field modified gravity are the large scale matter distribution (see [26]), the effects in Solar system [27,28].…”

Non-Abelian Gravitoelectromagnetism and Applications at Finite Temperature

“…These ideas arise from the analogy between equations for the Newton and Coulomb laws and the interest has increased with the discovery of the Lense-Thirring effect, where a rotating mass generates a gravitomagnetic field [15]. Some experiments that study this effect have been developed, such as LAGEOS (Laser Geodynamics Satellites) and LAGEOS 2 [16], the Gravity Probe B [17] and the mission LARES (Laser Relativity Satellite) [18,19].…”