Gravity-Induced Electric Fields in Metals1 M-C. LEUNG, G. PAPINI, AND R. G. RYSTEPHANICK Department oJPhysics, University of Saskatchewan, Regina Campus, Regina, Saskatchewan Received June 25, 1971 Gravitational perturbations induce electric fields in metals by causing the lattice to deviate system- atically from its periodic structure. In the microscopic approach used in this paper, the induced electric fields inside the metals are calculated from the periodicity deviations of the lattice. The results hold for weak stationary or quasi-stationary gravitational fields of permanent or nonpermanent nature. Explicit calculations are carried out for centrifugal and Lense-Thirring fields and for the gravitational field of the earth. In the latter case, size and direction of the electric field agree with those determined by Dessler et al. and lend support to the experimental results of Beams. The formalism used can also be applied to superconductors. It is found that the gravitational field introduces some anisotropic terms in the electron- phonon interaction. Les perturbations gravitationnelles induisent des champs dlectriques dans les mktaux en deviant systkmatiquement le rdseau de sa structure pkriodique. Dans la thkorie microscopique utiliske dans cet article, les champs Clectriques induits a I'intkrieur des mktaux sont calculds a partir des dkfauts de pkrio- dicitd du rkseau. Les rksultats obtenus sont valables pour des champs gravitationnels faibles, stationnaires ou quasi stationnaires, de nature permanente ou non permanente. Des calculs explicites sont prdsentks pour des champs centrifuges, des champs de Lense-Thimng et pour le champ gravitationnel terrestre. Dans ce dernier a s , I'intensitk et la direction du champ klectrique correspondent avec I'intensitk et la direction du cham^ determinks Dar Dessler et concordent avec les rdsultats ex~6imentaux de Beams. Le formalisme employ6 peut aussi Etre applique aux supraconducteurs. On a trouvk que le champ gravi- tationnel introduit quelque terrnes anisotropiques dans I'interaction klectron-phonon. Canadian Journal of Physics, 49. 2754 (1971) 1. Introduction where M is the ion mass. Rieger (1970) has at- Some recent experimental work by Witteborn tempted a microsco~ic approach to evaluate the and ~ ai~b~~k (1967) and witteborn and pallesen electric field induced inside the metal. In all these (1967) aimed at determining whether positrons works, only the static gravitational field of the rise or fall whenplaced in the E ~ ~ ~ Y ~ gravitational Earth is considered. Leung (1971) has indicated a field has motivated a number of authors to study simple way of calculating the effectof the Earth's the effect of gravity on metals. since in the experi- field as well as the centrifugal and Lense-Thirring ments of Witteborn and Fairbank, electrons and fields. positrons are exposed to the gravitational field of From the experimental point of view, the situa- the earth in metal pipes in which a vacuum has tion is not too clear. The results of Witteborn and been created, the effect of the gravitational field Fairbank seem to agree with the conclusions of on the pipe, if not properly taken into account, Schiff and Barnhill- These experiments have, may lead to an incorrect interpretation of the however, been criticized (Tannhouser 1968; data. Theoretical discussions have centered on the Michel 1968). Stress-induced have been actual magnitude and direction of the electric field measured semiquantitatively Craig (l969). . E induced both inside and outside a metal. Schiff This work suPPortstheviewsex~ressedb~ Dessler and Barnhi11 (1966) have, in fact, estimated E to et a[. Still other apparent ~ ~ d l r m a t i o n of the be equal in magnitude to rngje and directed down- results of Dessler et a[. comes from Beams (1968) ward, where rn and are respectively the mass and experiments on rotation-induced electric fields. the charge of the electron and g is the accelera- data are not presented in this paper, tion due to gravity. ~~~~l~~ et (1968) and H ~ ~ - Beams claims that his results are in reasonable ring(1968)take into account the lattice compressi- agreement with the conclusions of Dessler et a[- bility and in their calculation the electric field is research, particularly on the behavior of directed and of order of magnitude Mgje superconductors in gravitational fields, has in the meantime widened interest in the topic mainly 'Work supported by the National Research Cou'ncil of because of the possibility, at least in principle, of Canada. using superconductors to measure gravitational Can. J. Phys. Downloaded from www.nrcresearchpress.com by 99.232.203.166 on 03/24/13 For personal use only.