Gravitomagnetic effects in quadric gravity

Abstract

In this thesis equations for gravitomagnetic effects in quadric gravity will be derived and applied. Firstly, an overview of gravitational theories from Newtonian mechanics to Einstein's general relativity will be given. The concept of alternate theories of gravity will then be discussed leading to quadric gravity, a specific alternate theory of gravity, which will be explained and used throughout. From it an ansatz Kerr-like metric for a rotating spherically symmetric gravitational source will be considered. Using this metric the quadric gravity equations for Kepler's third law and two gravitomagnetic effects, the geodetic precession effect and the Lens Thirring effect, will be derived and compared to their general relativistic counterparts. Finally, the previously obtained equations will be applied for a specific system, that of a satellite orbiting the earth. The results will then be interpreted with particular focus on possible values and ranges for the coupling parameters. Numerical results will also be compared to their equivalents in general relativity and to actual data.