The 1919 measurement of the deflection of light

Clifford M. Will (1)

1 IAP - Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris

The measurement of the deflection of starlight during a total solar eclipse on 29 May 1919 was the first verification of general relativity by an external team of scientists, brought Einstein and his theory to the attention of the general public, and left a legacy of experimental testing that continues today. The discovery of gravitational lenses turned Einstein's deflection into an important tool for astronomy and cosmology. This article reviews the history of the 1919 measurement and other eclipse measurements, describes modern measurements of the effect using radio astronomy, and of its cousin, the Shapiro time delay, and discusses the discovery and impact of gravitational lenses.

Mots clés: light deflection; milestones of general relativity; experimental gravitation; Physics - History and Philosophy of Physics; General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology

Domaines: Planète et Univers [physics]

Clifford M. Will. The 1919 measurement of the deflection of light. Classical and Quantum Gravity, 2015, 32, ⟨10.1088/0264-9381/32/12/124001⟩. ⟨insu-03644933⟩