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KL Columb Experiment
KL Columb Experiment
METROLOGIA
PII: S0026-1394(04)80313-X
Abstract
We examine the theoretical and experimental foundations of Coulombs
Law and review the various roles it plays not only in electromagnetism and
electrodynamics, but also in quantum mechanics, cosmology, and
thermodynamics. The many implications of Coulombs Law draw attention
to its fundamental importance within virtually all branches of physics and
make this elementary yet profound law one of the most useful of all
scientific tools.
0026-1394/04/050159+12$30.00
Printed in the UK
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G Spavieri et al
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1
r 2
(1)
Wire
q
Q
Mirror
Light ray
Light source
q1 q 2
,
r2
(2)
f (r + a) f (r a)
.
2ar
(4)
(7)
4a 2
a+r
1 a
.
ln
ln
ar
a2 r 2
2 r
(8)
where
M(a, r) =
G Spavieri et al
er
er/C
U (r) =
=
,
r
r
Save for the standard term q/C (which is zero when there
is no charge on the inner shell), the term dependent on in
equation (14) coincides with that of equation (10).
(9)
where = m c/h = 1
C is the inverse Compton wavelength
of the photon. In the limit a 1, U (r) = 1/r + 21 2 r
and equation (6) yields
1
V (r) V (a)
= 2 (a 2 r 2 ).
V (a)
6
(10)
(12)
G Spavieri et al
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v 2
2
,
2 c2
(15)
Silver ground
surface (1)
Twin X
to
lock-in
Charging
coax
cable
20 F
Capacitor C23
Superconducting
solenoid
Figure 3. Schematic diagram of the cryogenic photon-mass experiment of Ryan et al. The system measures the current that flows between
two closed surfaces in response to an impressed voltage difference. The apparatus is kept at very low temperature (1.36 K). (Figure 1 from
Ryan et al [34]. Copyright (1985) by the American Physical Society (with permission of Prof. Austin).)
(16)
(17)
d I0 (m )
() = j (a ) K0 (m )
0
d K0 (m )
+ I0 (m )
j ( a)K0 (m )
d I0 (m ).
(18)
G Spavieri et al
Support
+v
Tungsten wire
earth
Mirror
Laser
Sensor
Amplifier
A ambient
A
Ad
Computer
98 mm
Flotation chamber
DC supply
Magnetic
shield
Air
shield
18.5 mm
145 mm
(19)
B=
S166
4
1E
j+
2A.
c
c t
Date
Cavendish
Coulomb
Robison
Maxwell
Plimpton and Lawton
Cochran and Franken
Bartlett et al
Williams et al
Goldhaber and Nieto
Franken and Ampulski
Lowenthal
Davis et al
Crandall
Ryan et al
Boulware and Deser
Chernikov et al
Fischbach et al
Lakes
Schaefer
Lou et al
1773
1779
1801
1892
1936
1968
1970
1971
1968
1971
1973
1975
1983
1985
1989
1992
1994
1998
1999
2002
/cm1
3 10
1 102
6 102
5 105
2 109
9 1012
1 1013
6 1016
1.7 1016
4.3 1018
3.0 1008
3.4 1017
3.4 1016
6.4 1011
1.2 1013
3.6 1014
4.3 1017
6.8 1019
1.8 1012
5.1 1020
d
d
d
d
d
d
d
d
i
i
i
i
d
i
i
i
i
i
i
i
m /g
2
1 10
1 101
6 102
1 103
1 106
9 108
1 108
5 1010
1.4 1010
3.6 1012
2.5 102
2.8 1011
2.8 1010
5.3 105
1 107
3 108
3.5 1011
5.7 1013
1.5 106
4.3 1014
2.8 1040
2.8 1039
2.8 1040
2.8 1041
2.8 1044
2.6 1045
2.8 1046
1.4 1047
4.0 1048
1.0 1049
7.0 1040
8.0 1049
8.0 1048
1.5 1042
2.8 1045
8.4 1046
1.0 1048
1.6 1050
4.2 1044
1.2 1045
-20
10
-15
Precision
10
-10
10
-5
10
10
1775
1800
1825
1850
1900
1875
Year
1925
1950
1975
2000
Figure 5. Graph showing the increasing precision by which Coulombs Law in the form 1/r 2+ has been verified since the 1700s. The
law would be verified exactly when = 0. Although some of the recent experiments are relatively imprecise, they are nevertheless
important because they extend the validity of Coulombs Law as a function of the physical conditions of the measurement.
r21
,
| r2 r1 |2
(20)
G Spavieri et al
that is, the charge has the dimensions of length times the square
root of a force. The corresponding unit was called the Franklin
(or simply u.e.s) and was such that a force of 1 dyne would
act between two unit charges separated by a distance of 1 cm
(1 Franklin = 1 u.e.s = 1 cm3/2 g1/2 s1 ).
In the rationalized Gaussian system, k was also
dimensionless and had a numerical value of k = 1/4 . The
added complexity of incorporating a numerical constant into
the statement of Coulombs Law is amply compensated by the
disappearance of the 4 in the integral relations (as in Gauss
Law). In this system, the unit of the electric charge was derived
using arguments similar to those of the first case, but the unit
was seldom used.
The accepted standard, of course, is the International
System or SI, within which the unit of electric charge is the
coulomb [C]. The constant k now takes the value (4 0 )1
where 0 , which has the defined value 0 = 8.854....
1012 F m1 , is the electric constant, i.e. the permittivity of
free space or the dielectric constant in vacuo. In this case,
k is neither a pure number nor a dimensionless ratio, instead
having the dimensions of [0 ]1 .
In spite of the ubiquity of the SI, use of the Gaussian
system persists among many theoretical physicists because
it offers a convenient form of k and velocities appear in
dimensionless form (instead of v the quotient v/c is used,
where c is the speed of light in vacuo). Of course, the SI is
used uniquely for any measurements and all modern electrical
instruments and devices are calibrated accordingly.
Acknowledgments
This work was supported in part by the CDCHT, ULA, Merida,
Venezuela.
References
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