Testing the equivalence principle: why and how?

TL;DR

This paper reviews the theoretical motivation for testing the equivalence principle, discusses how to optimize material pairs for testing, and introduces a simplified framework based on competing theoretical models.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive review of the motivation and proposes a simplified rationale for selecting test materials based on theoretical model classes.

Findings

Optimized material pairs can enhance equivalence principle tests.

A trichotomy of theoretical models guides test design.

The rationale improves the strategic approach to experimental testing.

Abstract

Part of the theoretical motivation for improving the present level of testing of the equivalence principle is reviewed. The general rationale for optimizing the choice of pairs of materials to be tested is presented. One introduces a simplified rationale based on a trichotomy of competing classes of theoretical models.