Accelerator experiments check general relativity

TL;DR

High-energy accelerator experiments testing gamma-ray deflection in Earth's gravity challenge Einstein's predictions, showing results inconsistent with the expected bending angle, but interpretations depend on electron gravitational effects.

Contribution

The paper presents experimental results on gamma-ray deflection at high energies, questioning the magnitude predicted by general relativity and highlighting the importance of electron gravitational effects.

Findings

Gamma-ray spectra inconsistent with Einstein's predicted deflection of 2.78 nrad.

Preliminary results show opposite deflection directions, 33.8 to -0.8 prad.

Results are specific to high-energy electrons considered gravitationally sterile.

Abstract

The deflection of gamma-rays in Earth's gravitational field is tested in laser Compton scattering at high energy accelerators. Within a formalism connecting the bending angle to the photon's momentum it follows that detected gamma-ray spectra are inconsistent with a deflection magnitude of 2.78 nrad, predicted by Einstein's gravity theory. Moreover, preliminary results for 13-28 GeV photons from two different laboratories show opposite - away from the beam line - deflection, amounting to 33.8-0.8 prad. These conclusions, however, are applicable only for gravitationally sterile high energy electrons. Much more subtle effects are expected if the gravitational deflection of the electrons is taken into account.