CITATION.cff

cff-version: 1.2.0
title: What Do Precision Tests of General Relativity Actually Measure?
message: If you use this software, please cite it as below.
type: article
authors:
- family-names: Smawfield
  given-names: Matthew Lukin
  orcid: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-8219-3159
abstract: 'Most high-precision tests of general relativity constrain reciprocity-even,
  largely local observables within single-metric frameworks. This leaves open a specific
  underdetermination between General Relativity (GR) and a class of two-metric disformal
  scalar-tensor modifications, exemplified here by the Temporal Equivalence Principle
  (TEP).

  This paper formalizes a measurement taxonomy distinguishing gauge-invariant from
  convention-dependent observables and identifies six recurring scope limitations
  in the experimental canon: (1) two-way measurement dominance; (2) local/global conflation;
  (3) model-dependent calibration; (4) single-path multi-messenger constraints on
  differential propagation that do not directly test common-mode conformal clock-sector
  structure; (5) theory-laden data reduction; and (6) the density-regime screening
  blind spot, whereby tests performed in deep potential wells probe only the screened
  regime where scalar-field gradients are continuously suppressed, leaving the unscreened
  low-density regime unexplored. These characteristics do not diminish the experimental
  achievements but indicate that, in many cases, the tests primarily constrain parameter
  space within assumed frameworks rather than systematically discriminating between
  alternatives.

  Discriminating observables—specifically loop asymmetries, spatial correlations,
  and density-regime screening transitions—are proposed, together with experimental
  configurations capable of resolving the underdetermination. These include large-area
  triangle holonomy tests (targeting residual synchronization holonomy H_resid), interplanetary
  closed-loop timing, altitude-varying optical clock networks to map continuous geometric
  screening, and matter-wave interferometry.

  '
license: CC-BY-4.0
version: v0.4 (Istanbul)
date-released: 2025-12-31
keywords:
- Temporal Equivalence Principle
- Temporal Shear
- Temporal Topology
- proper time
- conformal metric
- disformal metric
- synchronization holonomy
- clock-sector gravity
- scalar-tensor theory
- general relativity
- experimental tests
- underdetermination
- synchronization
- GPS
- gravitational redshift
- Shapiro delay
- multi-messenger astronomy
repository-code: https://github.com/matthewsmawfield/TEP-EXP
url: https://github.com/matthewsmawfield/TEP-EXP
doi: 10.5281/zenodo.18109760
preferred-citation:
  type: article
  title: What Do Precision Tests of General Relativity Actually Measure? (Istanbul
    v0.4)
  authors:
  - family-names: Smawfield
    given-names: Matthew Lukin
    orcid: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-8219-3159
  year: 2025
  journal: Zenodo
  doi: 10.5281/zenodo.18109760
  identifiers:
  - type: doi
    value: 10.5281/zenodo.18109760
    description: Pre-print DOI
  url: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18109760
  notes: Preprint