A Transportable Gravity Gradiometer Based on Atom Interferometry
TBMG-7932
05/01/2010
- Content
A transportable atom interferometer-based gravity gradiometer has been developed at JPL to carry out measurements of Earth’s gravity field at ever finer spatial resolutions, and to facilitate high-resolution monitoring of temporal variations in the gravity field from ground- and flight-based platforms. Existing satellite-based gravity missions such as CHAMP and GRACE measure the gravity field via precise monitoring of the motion of the satellites; i.e. the satellites themselves function as test masses. JPL’s quantum gravity gradiometer employs a quantum phase measurement technique, similar to that employed in atomic clocks, made possible by recent advances in laser cooling and manipulation of atoms. This measurement technique is based on atom-wave interferometry, and individual laser-cooled atoms are used as drag-free test masses.
- Citation
- "A Transportable Gravity Gradiometer Based on Atom Interferometry," Mobility Engineering, May 1, 2010.