Epistemology of Experimental Gravity - Scientific Rationality

 CONTENTS:

 Introduction

    Gravity

    Gravitational tests

    Methodology of Lakatos - Scientific rationality

    The natural extension of the Lakatos methodology

       Bifurcated programs

       Unifying programs

 1. Newtonian gravity

    1.1 Heuristics of Newtonian gravity

    1.2 Proliferation of post-Newtonian theories

    1.3 Tests of post-Newtonian theories

       1.3.1 Newton's proposed tests

       1.3.2 Tests of post-Newtonian theories

    1.4 Newtonian gravity anomalies

    1.5 Saturation point in Newtonian gravity

 2. General relativity

    2.1 Heuristics of the general relativity

    2.2 Proliferation of post-Einsteinian gravitational theories

    2.3 Post-Newtonian parameterized formalism (PPN)

    2.4 Tests of general relativity and post-Einsteinian theories

       2.4.1 Tests proposed by Einstein

       2.4.2 Tests of post-Einsteinian theories

       2.4.3 Classic tests

          2.4.3.1 Precision of Mercury's perihelion

          2.4.3.2 Light deflection

          2.4.3.3 Gravitational redshift

       2.4.4 Modern tests

          2.4.4.1 Shapiro Delay

          2.4.4.2 Gravitational dilation of time

          2.4.4.3 Frame dragging and geodetic effect

          2.4.4.4 Testing of the principle of equivalence

          2.4.4.5 Solar system tests

       2.4.5 Strong field gravitational tests

          2.4.5.1 Gravitational lenses

          2.4.5.2 Gravitational waves

          2.4.5.3 Synchronization binary pulsars

          2.4.5.4 Extreme environments

       2.4.6 Cosmological tests

          2.4.6.1 The expanding universe

          2.4.6.2 Cosmological observations

          2.4.6.3 Monitoring of weak gravitational lenses

    2.5 Anomalies of general relativity

    2.6 The saturation point of general relativity

 3. Quantum gravity

    3.1 Heuristics of quantum gravity

    3.2 The tests of quantum gravity

    3.3 Canonical quantum gravity

       3.3.1 Tests proposed for the CQG

       3.3.2. Loop quantum gravity

    3.4 String theory

       3.4.1 Heuristics of string theory

       3.4.2. Anomalies of string theory

    3.5 Other theories of quantum gravity

    3.6 Unification (The Final Theory)

 4. Cosmology

 Conclusions

 Notes

 Bibliography

 DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.35350.70724