Newton's second law versus modified-inertia MOND: a test using the high-latitude effect

TL;DR

This paper develops a detailed theory and estimates the magnitude of the SHLEM effect, a terrestrial test for modified-inertia MOND, predicting a measurable displacement in gravitational wave detectors around equinoxes.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive theoretical framework and quantitative estimates for testing modified-inertia MOND via the SHLEM effect in laboratory experiments.

Findings

Expected mirror displacement of about 10^{-14} meters.

Identification of specific terrestrial locations for observing the effect.

Discussion of experimental feasibility and detection methods.

Abstract

The modified-inertia MOND is an approach that proposes a change in Newton's second law at small accelerations as an alternative to dark matter. Recently it was suggested that this approach can be tested in terrestrial laboratory experiments. One way of doing the test is based on the Static High-Latitude Equinox Modified Inertia (SHLEM) effect: around each equinox date, 2 spots emerge on the Earth where static bodies experience spontaneous displacement due to the violation of Newton's second law required by the modified-inertia MOND. Here, a detailed theory of this effect is developed and estimates of the magnitude of the signal due to the effect are obtained. The expected displacement of a mirror in a gravitational wave interferometer is found to be about 10^{-14} m. Some experimental aspects of the proposal are discussed.