Indications of a Fifth Force Coupling to Baryon Number in the Potter Test of the Weak Equivalence Principle

TL;DR

This paper reexamines a 1923 experiment and finds evidence suggesting a possible fifth force coupling to baryon number, challenging the original conclusion of null results.

Contribution

It provides a new analysis of historical data indicating a potential fifth force, which was not identified in the original study.

Findings

Pattern in data suggests a fifth force coupling to baryon number

Reanalysis challenges previous null results

Supports the possibility of new fundamental interactions

Abstract

We have reanalyzed data obtained by Potter in a 1923 experiment aimed at testing whether the accelerations of test masses in the Earth's gravitational field are independent of their compositions. Although Potter concludes that the accelerations of his samples compared to a brass standard were individually consistent with a null result, we show that the pattern formed from a combined plot of all of his data suggests the presence of a fifth force coupling to baryon number.