NASA researchers have proposed a new approach to unraveling the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy in astronomy and astrophysics. A recent study, published in the journal Physical Review D, suggests using a formation of spacecraft flying in a tetrahedron shape to potentially discover new physical phenomena within our solar system.
Lead by G. Turyshev, a professor of physics and astronomy at the University of California in Los Angeles and a NASA research scientist, the initiative aims to leverage the gravitational fields of the Sun to search for deviations from Einstein’s general theory of relativity. The team, including experimental physicist Sheng-Wem Chiow and senior researcher Nan Yu from the University of South Carolina, is exploring the use of interferometers and laser rangefinders for precise measurements of distances and relative speeds between spacecraft.
The mission will utilize atomic interferometers to detect and compensate for non-gravitational disturbances such as engine activity, solar radiation pressure, and thermal recoils. By increasing measurement accuracy, the team hopes to identify even the smallest deviations in the gravitational gradient tensor that could point towards new physics beyond our current understanding.
Aside from verifying the general theory of relativity on a small scale, the NASA mission also aims to detect gravitational waves at a micro level, study the possible existence of a ninth planet in our solar system, and explore other aspects of the solar system in more detail through future research.
Overall, this innovative NASA mission has the potential to not only enhance our knowledge of the cosmos but also revolutionize current cosmological models.