https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-015-3771-4
Regular Article - Theoretical Physics
Improved upper bounds on Kaluza–Klein gravity with current Solar System experiments and observations
1
Purple Mountain Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, China
2
School of Astronomy and Space Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China
3
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Space Navigation and Position Techniques, Shanghai, 200030, China
4
Key Laboratory of Modern Astronomy and Astrophysics, Nanjing University, Ministry of Education, Nanjing, 210093, China
* e-mail: yixie@nju.edu.cn
Received:
8
September
2015
Accepted:
2
November
2015
Published online:
19
November
2015
As an extension of previous works on classical tests of Kaluza–Klein (KK) gravity and as an attempt to find more stringent constraints on this theory, its effects on physical experiments and astronomical observations conducted in the Solar System are studied. We investigate the gravitational time delay at inferior conjunction caused by KK gravity, and use new Solar System ephemerides and the observation of Cassini to strengthen constraints on KK gravity by up to two orders of magnitude. These improved upper bounds mean that the fifth-dimensional space in the soliton case is a very flat extra dimension in the Solar System, even in the vicinity of the Sun.
© SIF and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, 2015
