SFB 1128:
Relativistic Geodesy and Gravimetry with Quantum Sensors - Modelling, Geo-Metrology and Future Technology (geo-Q)
Subject Area
Geosciences
Computer Science, Systems and Electrical Engineering
Physics
Term
from 2014 to 2019
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 239994235
Spatial and temporal variations of the Earth’s gravitational field allow unique ways to detect and quantify processes of change in the Earth system and to monitor contributions related to climate change. Gravitational data enable the direct quantification of mass changes, such as the present mass loss of the polar ice sheets, the mass component of sea level rise, and changes in the large and small-scale water cycle. However, the gravitational signals obtained from current satellite measurements do not have the resolution and accuracy to reliably identify the causes, mechanisms, and interactions of the processes.The goal of geo-Q is to explore new frontiers of the determination of the gravitational field based on revolutionary quantum sensors and modelling methods from Einstein’s theory of General Relativity. geo-Q will investigate three central components of integrated gravity modelling and develop three fundamentally new geodetic measurement techniques:1.Laser interferometry for ranging between satellites at the nanometer level of precision. Future satellite gravimetry with such sensors will achieve – through gravitational signals – a global and continuous monitoring of mass changes with a ten times improved accuracy and two times better spatial resolution (200 km or better).2.Rapid and compact atomic gravity sensors for terrestrial measurement campaigns to achieve a local recovery of mass change beyond the limit of resolution of satellite techniques.3.Ultra-precise optical atomic clocks for the determination of the gravitational potential from relativistic gravitational frequency redshift. This becomes possible due to the extreme accuracy of today’s clock metrology, and it opens new perspectives to establish a future fundamental reference for gravitational measurements and a globally homogeneous height reference.The integration of the three components will be unique worldwide. In the first funding period we have laid the foundations that we will now apply to real measurements in the field. We will employ our atomic quantum gravimeter for measurement campaigns in northern Germany. After the launch of the GRACE Follow-on mission in early 2018, we will now analyse real data instead of the simulated data that we practiced on in the first period. New compact accelerometers and mobile clocks will facilitate mobile campaigns. And after first tests in the first period, we will now conduct relativistic height measurement campaigns with clock networks.
DFG Programme
Collaborative Research Centres
Completed projects
-
A01 - Transportable quantum gravimeter
(Project Heads
Herr, Waldemar
;
Müller, Jürgen
;
Rasel, Ernst Maria
)
-
A02 - Gravity sensing with very long baseline atom interferometry
(Project Heads
Ertmer, Wolfgang
;
Rasel, Ernst Maria
;
Schlippert, Dennis
)
-
A03 - Transportable optical clocks for relativistic geodesy
(Project Heads
Denker, Heiner
;
Lisdat, Christian
;
Schmidt, Piet Oliver
)
-
A04 - Frequency transfer through long-distance optical fibre links for relativistic geodesy
(Project Heads
Grosche, Gesine
;
Schnatz, Harald
)
-
A05 - Optical noise sources of low Earth orbiter links
(Project Heads
Heinzel, Gerhard
;
Wanner, Gudrun
)
-
A06 - Observation of spurious forces
(Project Heads
Danzmann, Karsten
;
Mehmet, Moritz
)
-
A07 - Multichannel interferometry optics for gradiometry
(Project Heads
Danzmann, Karsten
;
Gerberding, Oliver
)
-
B02 - Fusion of ranging, accelerometry, and attitude sensing in the multi-sensor system for laserinterferometric inter-satellite ranging
(Project Heads
Flury, Jakob
;
Heinzel, Gerhard
)
-
B03 - Strengthening the GNSS based kinematic positioning of low Earth orbiters for gravity field determination
(Project Head
Schön, Steffen
)
-
B04 - Data analysis challenges for the GRACE Follow-On community
(Project Heads
Flury, Jakob
;
Hewitson, Ph.D., Martin
;
List, Meike
;
Naeimi, Majid
)
-
B05 - High performance satellite formation flight simulator
(Project Heads
Hewitson, Ph.D., Martin
;
List, Meike
;
Rievers, Benny
)
-
B06 - Nanometer ranging systems for low Earth orbiter links
(Project Heads
Braxmaier, Claus
;
Guzmán, Felipe
;
Heinzel, Gerhard
)
-
B07 - System studies for an optical gradiometer mission
(Project Heads
Heinzel, Gerhard
;
Müller, Jürgen
)
-
C01 - Disentangling gravitational signals and errors in global gravity field parameter estimation from satellite observations
(Project Head
Flury, Jakob
)
-
C02 - Relativistic orbit modeling of satellite constellations
(Project Heads
Hackmann, Eva
;
Lämmerzahl, Claus
;
Müller, Jürgen
)
-
C03 - Clock network modeling for relativistic geodesy
(Project Heads
Lämmerzahl, Claus
;
Müller, Jürgen
)
-
C04 - Regional gravity field modelling for relativistic geodesy and vertical datum definition
(Project Head
Denker, Heiner
)
-
C05 - Modeling of mass variations down to small scales
(Project Heads
Eicker, Annette
;
Güntner, Andreas
;
Weigelt, Matthias
)
-
INFS01 - Sustainable scientific results in geo-Q
(Project Head
Hewitson, Ph.D., Martin
)
-
MGK - Integrated Research Training Group ("geo-Q Research School")
(Project Heads
Danzmann, Karsten
;
Kawazoe, Fumiko
)
-
Z01 - Central Tasks
(Project Head
Müller, Jürgen
)
