Experimental tests of a new theory of gravitation

The predictions for the perihelion shift, the deflectionof light, and the delay time of a light ray are calculated in the nonsymmetric theory of gravitation. An upper bound for the parameter l (that occurs as a constant of integration in the static, spherically symmetric solution of the field equations) is obtained for the sun for the experimental value of the perihelion shift of Mercury, yielding |l cross product|<= (2.92 +- 0.10) x 103 km. The upper bound on |lcross product| obtained from the Viking spacecraft time-delay experiment is |lcross product|<= 1.13 x 104 km. For |lcross product |<= 2.92 x 103 km, we find that the theory is consistent with the standard relativistic experiments for the solar system. The theory predicts that the perihelion of a satellite could reverse its direction of precession if it orbits close enough to the sun. The results for a highly eccentric satellite orbit are calculated in terms of the value |lcross product| = 2.92 x 103 km. (auth)