Gravity-induced phase-shift of light: outline of an interferometric test of the Equivalence Principle

TL;DR

This paper proposes an optical interferometry experiment to test the Equivalence Principle by detecting phase shifts caused by gravitational field disconnection during free fall.

Contribution

It introduces a novel interferometric method to measure gravitational effects on light phase shifts, offering a new approach to testing the Equivalence Principle.

Findings

Potential measurement of phase jump with current interferometers

Demonstrates feasibility of gravitational field disconnection detection

Suggests a new experimental test for the Equivalence Principle

Abstract

I analyze the change of the interference pattern in an optical interferometer when it passes from rest to free fall. It is shown that the "disconnection" of the gravitational field causes a jump in the phase difference that could be measured with the current sensitivity of these instruments. For this reason, I propose to the optical interferometry community the possibility of a test of the Equivalence Principle based on the aforementioned effect.