Gravitational Redshifts and the Mass-Radius Relation

Abstract

The gravitational redshift is one of Einstein’s three original tests of General Relativity and derives from time’s slowing near a massive body. For velocities well below c, this is represented with sufficient accuracy by: As detailed by Will (1981), Schiff’s conjecture argues that the gravitational redshift actually tests the principle of equivalence rather than the gravitational field equations. For low redshifts, solar system tests give highest accuracy. LoPresto & Pierce (1986) have shown that the redshift at the Sun’s limb is good to about ±3%. Rocket experiments produce an accuracy of ±0.02% (Vessot et al . 1980), while for 40 Eri B the best white dwarf, the observed and predicted V RS agree to only about ±_5% (Wegner 1980).