Tidal gravitational effects in a satellite

Abstract

Atomic wave interferometers are tied to a telescope pointing towards a faraway star in a nearly free falling satellite. Such a device is sensitive to the acceleration and the rotation relatively to the local inertial frame and to the tidal gravitational effects too. We calculate the rotation of the telescope due to the aberration and the deflection of the light in the gravitational field of a central mass (the Earth and Jupiter). Within the framework of a general parametrized description of the problem, we discuss the contributions which must be taken into account in order to observe the Lense-Thirring effect. Using a geometrical model, we consider some perturbations to the idealized device and we calculate the corresponding effect on the periodic components of the signal. Some improvements in the knowledge of the gravitational field are still necessary as well as an increase of the experimental capabilities; however our conclusions support a reasonable optimism for the future. Finally we put forward the necessity of a more complete, realistic and powerful model in order to obtain a definitive conclusion on the feasibility of the experiment as far as the observation of the Lense-Thirring effect is involved.