The Clock Mission OPTIS

Kurzfassung

Clocks are an almost universal tool for exploring the fundamental structure of theories related to relativity. For future clock experiments, it is important for them to be performed in space. One mission which has the capability to perform and improve all relativity tests based on clocks by several orders of magnitude is OPTIS. These tests consist of (i) tests of the isotropy of light propagation (from which information about the matter sector which the optical resonators are made of can also be drawn), (ii) tests of the constancy of the speed of light, (iii) tests of the universality of the gravitational redshift by comparing clocks based on light propagation, like light clocks and various atomic clocks, (iv) time dilation based on the Doppler effect, (vi) measuring the absolute gravitational redshift, (vi) measuring the perihelion advance of the satellite´s orbit by using very precise tracking techniques, (vii) measuring the Lense-Thirring effect, and (viii) testing Newton´s gravitational potential law on the scale of Earth-bound satellites. The corresponding tests are not only important for fundamental physics but also indispensable for practical purposes like navigation, Earth sciences, metrology, etc.