On the Effects of Gravitational Fields on the Electrical Properties of Matter

Abstract

A discussion of the electrical state of a conducting solid in a static gravitational field is presented. The analysis of the stress-gravitational force balance inside the solid is complicated; however, outside the solid, in the evanescent electron field, the analysis of such a balance simplifies greatly. As a consequence of this external analysis, an expression for the electric field external to the body is presented which includes the direct effect of gravity on the electrons, as well as the indirect effect due to the stress induced by the action of gravity on the bulk solid. Such fields are an important determinant of the gravitational motion of charged particles within metallic shields.