Quantum gravity gradiometry for future mass change science
Abstract A quantum gravity gradiometer in a low Earth orbit, operating in a cross-track configuration, could be a viable single-spacecraft measurement instrument to provide mass change data for Earth observation, at comparable or better resolutions to existing maps generated by GRACE-FO. To reach the sensitivity for these science-grade measurements, many parts of the cold-atom interferometer need to be operating at, or beyond, state-of-the-art performance. In order to raise the maturity of the technology of the cold-atom gradiometer and determine the feasibility of a science-grade instrument, a pathfinder technology demonstration platform is funded. The requirements and a notional design for such a pathfinder and the outstanding challenges for science-grade instruments are presented.
Authors
- Peter Brereton (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2814-4247)
- Bryant Loomis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9370-9160)
- Ben Stray (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1264-552X)
- S. B. Luthcke (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0558-3634)
- Srinivas Bettadpur (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3885-2228)
- Holly Leopardi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1379-3292)
- Robert J. Thompson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2160-3201)
- Christian Schubert (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4857-7055)
- Parminder Ghuman
- Nan Yu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6339-6274)
- Xavier Bosch-Lluis
- Sheng‐wey Chiow (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2397-6300)
- Maike Diana Lachmann (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4212-0863)
- Ahmad Bawamia
- Holger Ahlers
- Norman Lay
- Anand Mylapore
- Thomas Stolz
- Christopher Kuehl
- Dennis Weise
- Clayton Okino
- Brian Muirhead
- Jason Hyon
Institutions
- Airbus (Italy) (IT)
- Goddard Space Flight Center (US)
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory (US)
- Ferdinand-Braun-Institut (DE)
- Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V. (DLR) (DE)
- Airbus (Germany) (DE)
- The University of Texas at Austin (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- EPJ Quantum Technology
- Published
- 2025-03-14
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1140/epjqt/s40507-025-00338-1
- Citations
- 3
- Primary Topic
- Geophysics and Gravity Measurements
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 5.38
Funders
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- California Institute of Technology
- Nuclear Safety and Security Commission
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory