Observable detail · SOLAR

Nordtvedt η

equivalence-principle parameter

Predictionη = 4β − γ − 3 ≈ +2.0 × 10⁻⁵
Measured|η| < 4.4 × 10⁻⁴ (LLR)
Residual1σ consistent
Statushit
Source paperDCT-PPN-01

Mechanism

η = 4β − γ − 3 from Nordtvedt 1968. With γ − 1 = −1.998 × 10⁻⁵ and β − 1 = 5 × 10⁻¹¹, η = +2.0 × 10⁻⁵. Current LLR bound consistent; LUNAR (~2035) projects σ_η = 10⁻⁶, giving 20σ decisive test.

Derivation

η = 4β − γ − 3 from Nordtvedt 1968. With γ − 1 = −1.998 × 10⁻⁵ and β − 1 = 5 × 10⁻¹¹, η = +2.0 × 10⁻⁵. Current LLR bound consistent; LUNAR (~2035) projects σ_η = 10⁻⁶, giving 20σ decisive test.

The closed-form prediction is

$$ \text{predicted} = η = 4β − γ − 3 ≈ +2.0 × 10⁻⁵ $$

against the measurement |η| < 4.4 × 10⁻⁴ (LLR), giving residual 1σ consistent.

Python verification

The verification script for this observable is gravity_tests.py. Run it with python3 gravity_tests.py to reproduce the canonical DCT result against the public-archive measurement source listed above (Williams et al. 2009 LLR; LUNAR mission concept.).

Methodology

DomainSolar-system / strong-gravity (GR)
Input data sourceSee "References" below for the canonical public-archive citation. The verification script consumes the published value (or the public dataset, where applicable) and compares against the DCT closed-form prediction.
Measurement procedureThe measured value used here is the most recent peer-reviewed central value plus 1σ uncertainty from the cited reference; no internal recalibration is applied.
Acceptance thresholdHIT: residual within 1σ of measurement. SOFT: directional agreement, residual within bracketing range. OPEN: untested or unresolved.
Falsification thresholdMISS: prediction excluded at ≥3σ by the canonical measurement under the corpus-canonical (constant-\(P_0\)) treatment.
Current statusSee the verdict pill in the prediction table above.

Cross-references

Related observables in the same domain: llr-g-dot · beta-ppn · microscope-ep.

Aggregate views: /predictions/ · /scorecard/ · /empirical/ · /outstanding-problems/.

Audit notes

Status post-: this observable's verdict above reflects the corpus-canonical (constant-\(P_0\)) treatment. Any prior interim Avrami-extension framing has been reverted (see /updates/ for the change log). The cluster-paper deep-link above (DCT-PPN-01) is the canonical source of the derivation chain.

References

Back to all observables or the predictions table.