Measurements of the gravitational constant using two independent methods

Qing Li, Chao Xue, Jian-Ping Liu, Jun-Fei Wu, Shan-Qing Yang (), Cheng-Gang Shao (), Li-Di Quan, Wen-Hai Tan, Liang-Cheng Tu, Qi Liu, Hao Xu, Lin-Xia Liu, Qing-Lan Wang, Zhong-Kun Hu, Ze-Bing Zhou, Peng-Shun Luo, Shu-Chao Wu, Vadim Milyukov and Jun Luo ()
Additional contact information
Qing Li: Hubei Key Laboratory of Gravitation and Quantum Physics, School of Physics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Chao Xue: Sun Yat-sen University
Jian-Ping Liu: Hubei Key Laboratory of Gravitation and Quantum Physics, School of Physics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Jun-Fei Wu: Hubei Key Laboratory of Gravitation and Quantum Physics, School of Physics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Shan-Qing Yang: Hubei Key Laboratory of Gravitation and Quantum Physics, School of Physics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Cheng-Gang Shao: Hubei Key Laboratory of Gravitation and Quantum Physics, School of Physics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Li-Di Quan: Huzhou University
Wen-Hai Tan: Hubei Key Laboratory of Gravitation and Quantum Physics, School of Physics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Liang-Cheng Tu: Hubei Key Laboratory of Gravitation and Quantum Physics, School of Physics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Qi Liu: Sun Yat-sen University
Hao Xu: Hubei Key Laboratory of Gravitation and Quantum Physics, School of Physics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Lin-Xia Liu: Henan Institute of Technology
Qing-Lan Wang: School of Science, Hubei University of Automotive Technology
Zhong-Kun Hu: Hubei Key Laboratory of Gravitation and Quantum Physics, School of Physics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Ze-Bing Zhou: Hubei Key Laboratory of Gravitation and Quantum Physics, School of Physics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Peng-Shun Luo: Hubei Key Laboratory of Gravitation and Quantum Physics, School of Physics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Shu-Chao Wu: Hubei Key Laboratory of Gravitation and Quantum Physics, School of Physics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Vadim Milyukov: Moscow State University
Jun Luo: Hubei Key Laboratory of Gravitation and Quantum Physics, School of Physics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology

Nature, 2018, vol. 560, issue 7720, 582-588

Abstract: Abstract The Newtonian gravitational constant, G, is one of the most fundamental constants of nature, but we still do not have an accurate value for it. Despite two centuries of experimental effort, the value of G remains the least precisely known of the fundamental constants. A discrepancy of up to 0.05 per cent in recent determinations of G suggests that there may be undiscovered systematic errors in the various existing methods. One way to resolve this issue is to measure G using a number of methods that are unlikely to involve the same systematic effects. Here we report two independent determinations of G using torsion pendulum experiments with the time-of-swing method and the angular-acceleration-feedback method. We obtain G values of 6.674184 × 10−11 and 6.674484 × 10−11 cubic metres per kilogram per second squared, with relative standard uncertainties of 11.64 and 11.61 parts per million, respectively. These values have the smallest uncertainties reported until now, and both agree with the latest recommended value within two standard deviations.

Keywords: Torsion Pendulum Experiments; Relative Combined Uncertainty; Source Mass; Torsional Spring Constant; Magnetic Damping (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-018-0431-5

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