Fiber-Optic-Gyroscope Measurements Close to Rotating Liquid Helium

We previously reported anomalous fiber-optic gyroscope signals observed above rotating rings at temperatures close to liquid helium. Our results suggested that the liquid helium itself may be the source of our observed phenomenon. We constructed a new cryostat experiment that allows rotating a large quantity of liquid helium together with a superconducting niobium tube. The facility is built in such a way that our gyroscope can be placed directly in the center of rotation along the axis; however, the cryostat is built around the gyroscope to allow measuring without interference of helium liquid or gas. An anomalous signal was found of similar value compared to our previous measurements with a changed sign. As this measurement was done at a different location (center position) with respect to our old setup (top position), first hints for a possible field distribution of this phenomenon can be made. However, due to lower angular velocities used in this new setup so far, our measurement resolution was close to three times the resolution of our gyroscope and hence our data represent work in progress.Comment: To appear in the SPESIF-2010 conference proceedings published by AI

Experimental Evaluation of the Claimed Coulomb Rotation (Electrostatic Torque)

In the year 2002 publications of A.V.M. Khachatourian and A.O. Wistrom were released, in which the existence of an electrostatic torque has been claimed. This moment of force should act in a three sphere configuration, where one sphere is held at a constant electric potential. This claim was based on an observed rotation and was supported by a mathematical solution derived by Wistrom and Khachatourian. The theoretical work of Wistrom and Khachatourian as well as the interpretation of the observed rotation were criticized by several scientists who offered alternative explanations for the rotation. We therefore designed an experimental setup which enabled us to investigate the phenomenon. By performing numerous measurements, we showed that the rotation is due to asymmetric mass distribution within the sphere, which is dislocated due to electrostatic forces between the spheres. We were able to clear our measurements from this effect and observed a null result more than two orders of magnitude smaller than predicted by Khachatourian and Wistrom's theory. We therefore showed that the rotation doesn't occur in an electrostatic system within the resolution of our experiment.Comment: Accepted for publication in Journal of Electrostatic

Testing the Influence of the Gravitational Redshift on the Casimir Effect in Space

We show that the Casimir effect should be influenced by variations of the gravitational potential. This could be tested with a satellite in a highly elliptic orbit. Still significant technology development is required to achieve a relative accuracy of $<5 \times 10^{-10}$ necessary to detect the effect around Earth. That may be obtained in the future based on recent concepts for giant casimir forces. Such a space mission could evaluate both the laws of gravitation and quantum mechanics and their interaction. A dedicated mission, Gravity-Probe C, is proposed

Can the Tajmar effect be explained using a modification of inertia?

The Tajmar effect is an unexplained acceleration observed by accelerometers and laser gyroscopes close to rotating supercooled rings. The observed ratio between the gyroscope and ring accelerations was 3+/-1.2x10^-8. Here, a new model for inertia which has been tested quite successfully on the Pioneer and flyby anomalies is applied to this problem. The model assumes that the inertia of the gyroscope is caused by Unruh radiation that appears as the ring and the fixed stars accelerate relative to it, and that this radiation is subject to a Hubble-scale Casimir effect. The model predicts that the sudden acceleration of the nearby ring causes a slight increase in the inertial mass of the gyroscope, and, to conserve momentum in the reference frame of the spinning Earth, the gyroscope rotates clockwise with an acceleration ratio of 1.8+/-0.25x10^-8 in agreement with the observed ratio. However, this model does not explain the parity violation seen in some of the gyroscope data. To test these ideas the Tajmar experiment (setup B) could be exactly reproduced in the southern hemisphere, since the model predicts that the anomalous acceleration should then be anticlockwise.Comment: 9 pages, 1 figure. Accepted by EPL on the 4th December, 200

Extended Analysis of Gravitomagnetic Fields in Rotating Superconductors and Superfluids

Applying the Ginzburg-Landau theory including frame dragging effects to the case of a rotating superconductor, we were able to express the absolute value of the gravitomagnetic field involved to explain the Cooper pair mass anomaly previously reported by Tate. Although our analysis predicts large gravitomagnetic fields originated by superconductive gyroscopes, those should not affect the measurement of the Earth gravitomagnetic field by the Gravity Probe-B satellite. However, the hypothesis might be well suited to explain a mechanical momentum exchange phenomena reported for superfluid helium. As a possible explanation for those abnormally large gravitomagnetic fields in quantum materials, the reduced speed of light (and gravity) that was found in the case of Bose-Einstein condensates is analysed