Investigation of the Alzofon weight reduction experiment using NMR spectroscopy

Abstract

Interstellar travel requires propulsion systems beyond present possibilities and scientists search for new technologies and breakthrough concepts in physics. Frederick E. Alzofon came up with an alternative idea on the origin of the gravitational field. He claimed that the gravitational force arises from the interaction of subatomic particles and that the gravitational force between the particles of a system decreases during a process of retrograding from an ordered system into a disordered system. To proof his assumption, Alzofon used pulsed dynamic nuclear polarization to create such an order of particles within a test object and claims to have measured distinct changes in weight. This paper describes an experiment to investigate Alzofon's assumptions with the use of NMR spectroscopy for nuclear spin polarization. It could be shown that with certain measurement parameters, an apparent change in weight was indeed measured, but finally this turned out to be a temperature effect.