Gravitomagnetism and Lense-Thirring Effect of the Sun and Planets in the Solar System

Abstract

The general situation of gravitational experiments in the fundamental physics,especially the progress of measuring the Lense-Thirring effect induced by a test particle orbiting around a central rotating body, such as the Earth, is outlined. The Schiff formula which is a fundamental formula to describe the motion of a particle in the Gravitoelectromagnetic(GEM) field of a central rotating body, is given. Various methods, such as Satellite Laser Ranging(SLR), GP-B, Lunar Laser Ranging(LLR) and Ring Laser Gyroscope(RLG), to measure the Lense-Thirring effect are introduced. Especially, the application in Geophysics with RLG, such as earthquake, tide, earth rotation, polar motion, is presented. The present and future planes to measure the Lense-Thirring effect in high accuracy, such as LARES,OPTIS etc. are introduced. The situation of measuring Lense-Thirring effect of Martian gravitational field with MGS Doppler and range data or observing data of Martian natural satellites, Phobos and Deimos is indicated. The suggestion to lunch Martian mission in the future is also given. The measurement of the Lense-Thirring in Solar Gravitomagnetic field is described with the presently available planetary ranging to Mercury, Venus and Mars.The future plan LATOR to test the general theory of relativity is introduced with the International Space Station(ISS). Finally, The general relativity effect of gravitational field in binary pulsar, X-ray binary and the system of S-stars in infrared band near the Galactic center Sgr A* is briefly introduced. The situation about the experiments to confirm the relativistic theory in China with the tracking and ranging data in the planetary space and some suggestions to develop this work are mentioned.