Experimental feasibility of measuring the gravitational redshift of light using dispersion in optical fibers

TL;DR

This paper explores innovative experimental methods using optical fiber dispersion to measure the gravitational redshift of light, aiming for high-precision detection through phase shifts or time delays.

Contribution

It introduces two novel fiber-optic experimental models for detecting gravitational redshift, demonstrating their potential feasibility for precise measurements.

Findings

Feasibility of using fiber-optic Sagnac interferometers for gravitational redshift measurement

Potential of optical solitons in storage rings to detect gravitational frequency shifts

Discussion of experimental challenges and precision requirements

Abstract

This paper describes a new class of experiments that use dispersion in optical fibers to convert the gravitational frequency shift of light into a measurable phase shift or time delay. Two conceptual models are explored. In the first model, long counter-propagating pulses are used in a vertical fiber optic Sagnac interferometer. The second model uses optical solitons in vertically separated fiber optic storage rings. We discuss the feasibility of using such an instrument to make a high precision measurement of the gravitational frequency shift of light.