Combined search for Lorentz violation in short-range gravity

TL;DR

This paper combines results from multiple short-range gravity experiments to set new, more sensitive limits on Lorentz violation coefficients in the pure-gravity sector at submillimeter scales.

Contribution

It provides the first independent measurements of 14 Lorentz violation coefficients in the pure-gravity sector at unprecedented sensitivity levels.

Findings

Improved sensitivity to Lorentz violation by an order of magnitude.

First independent measurements of specific Lorentz violation coefficients.

Enhanced constraints on quadratic curvature derivatives and curvature couplings.

Abstract

Short-range experiments testing the gravitational inverse-square law at the submillimeter scale offer uniquely sensitive probes of Lorentz invariance. A combined analysis of results from the short-range gravity experiments HUST-2015, HUST-2011, IU-2012, and IU-2002 permits the first independent measurements of the 14 nonrelativistic coefficients for Lorentz violation in the pure-gravity sector at the level of $10^{-9}$ m$^2$, improving by an order of magnitude the sensitivity to numerous types of Lorentz violation involving quadratic curvature derivatives and curvature couplings.