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QuantumFrontiers
 
QuantumFrontiers Research Topics

Space Laser Gravimetry

Advancing laser interferometry for accelerometers and inter-satellite ranging, enabling more accurate measurements of Earth’s gravity field.

Contributions to QuantumFrontiers

  • Advancement of novel quantum and laser-based sensors and observation techniques for satellite gravimetry
  • Improvement in tracking of mass changes on Earth (groundwater, ice melting) by utilizing QF expertise in quantum-nanometrology for satellite-based geodesy
  • Establishment of QF as a renowned data processing center for gravimetric satellite missions

Collaborative Innovation

  • Studying and developing the following novel concepts for inertial sensing and inter-satellite ranging, which exploit laser interferometry in order to improve measurements of Earth’s gravity field (J. Müller / LUH, Heinzel, V. Müller AEI/LUH)
    • Optical accelerometers and gradiometers
    • Alternative optical layouts for laser ranging systems
    • Support developments of current instruments, e.g. in GRACE-I (DLR) / Mass Change Mission (MCM, NASA) and Next Generation Gravity Missions / MAGIC (European Space Agency) and atom interferometric concepts like CARIOQA
  • Investigating new measurement channels that contain gravity field information based on atomic clocks and centrifugal acceleration sensing (Weigelt, J. Müller, V. Müller,  LUH)
  • Advancing experimental demonstrations of optical accelerometers and inter-satellite ranging interferometers for future geodesy missions (Weigelt & J. Müller, LUH, V. Müller AEI, Mayer-Gürr TU Graz)
    • Torsion balance facility
    • On-axis laser interferometer Phasemeter & Instrument Control Units
  • Performing data analysis for the Laser Ranging Interferometer on GRACE Follow-On & future missions, adequate to achieve a sub-nanometer precision levels (List & Rievers / ZARM, J. Müller LUH, V.Müller AEI/LUH)

Scientific Output

  • Publications
    Abich K, Baatzsch A, Bogan C, Braxmaier C, Danzmann K, Barranco GF et al. Triple mirror assembly in the GRACE Follow-On laser ranging interferometer. Physical review applied. 2025 Oct 24;24(4):044076. doi: 10.1103/7ps8-317c
    Kupriyanov A, Knabe A, Fletling N, HosseiniArani A, Schilling M, Romeshkani M et al.. Optical & Cold Atom Interferometry Accelerometers in Future Satellite Gravimetry Missions. 2025. Abstract from Quantum Frontiers Days 2025, Langenhagen, Lower Saxony, Germany. Epub 2025 Jul.
    Yan Y, Wang C, Müller L, Wegener H, Heinzel G, Müller V. Re-analysing the data processing of the K-band ranging system on GRACE Follow-On. Journal of geodesy. 2025 Oct;99(10):80. Epub 2025 Sept 24. doi: 10.1007/s00190-025-01988-w
    HosseiniArani SA, Tennstedt B, Schilling M, Knabe A, Wu H, Schön S et al. Kalman-Filter Based Hybridization of Classic and Cold Atom Interferometry Accelerometers for Future Satellite Gravity Missions. In Freymueller JT, Sánchez L, editors, Geodesy for a Sustainable Earth - Proceedings of the 2021 Scientific Assembly of the International Association of Geodesy. Berlin: Springer Nature. 2023. p. 221-231. (International Association of Geodesy Symposia). Epub 2022 Oct 22. doi: 10.1007/1345_2022_172
    Knabe A, Schilling M, Wu H, Hosseiniarani A, Müller J, Beaufils Q et al. The Benefit of Accelerometers Based on Cold Atom Interferometry for Future Satellite Gravity Missions. In Freymueller JT, Sánchez L, editors, Geodesy for a Sustainable Earth - Proceedings of the 2021 Scientific Assembly of the International Association of Geodesy. Berlin: Springer Nature. 2023. p. 213-220. (International Association of Geodesy Symposia). Epub 2022 Aug 17. doi: 10.1007/1345_2022_151
    Nicklaus K, Voss K, Feiri A, Kaufer M, Dahl C, Herding M et al. Towards NGGM: Laser Tracking Instrument for the Next Generation of Gravity Missions. Remote sensing. 2022 Aug 21;14(16):4089. 4089. doi: 10.3390/rs14164089
    Yang Y, Yamamoto K, Dovale Álvarez M, Wei D, Esteban Delgado JJ, Jia J et al. On-Axis Optical Bench for Laser Ranging Instruments in Future Gravity Missions. Sensors. 2022 Mar 7;22(5):2070. doi: 10.3390/s22052070
    Meshksar N, Mehmet M, Isleif KS, Heinzel G. Applying differential wave-front sensing and differential power sensing for simultaneous precise and wide-range test-mass rotation measurements. Sensors (Switzerland). 2021 Jan;21(1):164. Epub 2020 Dec 29. doi: 10.3390/s21010164
    Yan Y, Müller V, Heinzel G, Zhong M. Revisiting the light time correction in gravimetric missions like GRACE and GRACE follow-on. Journal of Geodesy. 2021 May;95(5):48. Epub 2021 Apr 7. doi: 10.1007/s00190-021-01498-5
    Zhong L, Sośnica K, Weigelt M, Liu B, Zou X. Time-Variable Gravity Field from the Combination of HLSST and SLR. Remote sensing. 2021 Sept 2;13(17):3491. doi: 10.3390/rs13173491
    Heinzel G, Álvarez MD, Pizzella A, Brause N, Delgado JJE. Tracking Length and Differential-Wavefront-Sensing Signals from Quadrant Photodiodes in Heterodyne Interferometers with Digital Phase-Locked-Loop Readout. Physical Review Applied. 2020 Nov 6;14(5):054013. doi: 10.48550/arXiv.2005.00003, 10.1103/PhysRevApplied.14.054013, 10.15488/10598
    Müller J, Wu H. Using quantum optical sensors for determining the Earth’s gravity field from space. Journal of geodesy. 2020 Jul 24;94(8):71. doi: 10.1007/s00190-020-01401-8, 10.15488/10716
    Wegener H, Müller V, Heinzel G, Misfeldt M. Tilt-to-length coupling in the grace follow-on laser ranging interferometer. Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets. 2020 Jul 27;57(6):1362-1372. doi: 10.2514/1.A34790
    Wu H, Müller J. Towards an International Height Reference Frame Using Clock Networks. 2020. doi: 10.1007/1345_2020_97, 10.15488/14073
    Yang Y, Yamamoto K, Huarcaya V, Vorndamme C, Penkert D, Barranco GF et al. Single-element dual-interferometer for precision inertial sensing. Sensors (Switzerland). 2020 Sept 3;20(17):1-17. 4986. doi: 10.3390/s20174986
    Isleif KS, Heinzel G, Mehmet M, Gerberding O. Compact Multifringe Interferometry with Subpicometer Precision. Physical Review Applied. 2019 Sept;12(3):034025. Epub 2019 Sept 13. doi: 10.48550/arXiv.1903.02945, 10.1103/PhysRevApplied.12.034025, 10.15488/10435
    Trimeche A, Battelier B, Becker D, Bertoldi A, Bouyer P, Braxmaier C et al. Concept study and preliminary design of a cold atom interferometer for space gravity gradiometry. Classical and quantum gravity. 2019 Nov;36(21):215004. Epub 2019 Oct 10. doi: 10.48550/arXiv.1903.09828, 10.1088/1361-6382/ab4548

TG Members

  • Involved Members and their Relevant Expertise
    Members Institution Relevant Expertise
    Vitali Müller, Leader AEI/LUH Laser Interferometer modelling; LRI on GRACE-FO and for NGGM; Data Analysis
    Gerhard Heinzel AEI/LUH Space Laser Interferometry,
    Dietmar Kracht LZH Advanced Light Sources; Precision Additive Manufacturing of Quantum Sensors; High power solid-state single frequency amplifiers
    Jürgen Müller LUH Relativistic Geodesy; LLR Relativity Test; Application of Quantum Gravimetry
    Esteban Delgado AEI/LUH System engineering and test engineering
    Miguel Dovale AEI/LUH DFM, Prism-Optical Head modeling, optical readout design and testbed development
    Christoph Bode AEI/LUH DFM, readout and control electronics
    Kohei Yamamoto AEI/LUH DFM, optical simulation, readout electronics and control electronics
    Moritz Mehmet AEI/LUH Torsion Balance
    Gerald Bergmann AEI/LUH Readout of Torsion Balance, Seismic Noise
    Victor Huarcaya AEI/LUH Testbed development (Torsion Balance)
    Malte Misfeldt AEI/LUH Data analysis for GRACE-FO LRI
    Laura Müller AEI/LUH Data analysis for GRACE-FO LRI, Data processing of raw satellite measurements to level1 products
    Henry Wegener AEI/LUH Data analysis for GRACE-FO LRI, Tilt-To-Length Coupling
    Karsten Danzmann AEI/LUH LISA, Gravitational Wave Astronomy
    Arthur Reis AEI/LUH TerraQ B01, Accelerometer Modelling
    Stefano Gozzo AEI/LUH TerraQ B05
    Martin Weberpals AEI/LUH NGGM LRI experimental
    Sariga Sachit AEI/LUH TerraQ B04 LRI experimental
    Christoph Gentemann AEI/LUH TerraQ B06 Torsion Balance
    Yihao Yan AEI/LUH GRACE-FO data analysis
    Annike Knabe LUH Attitude Control, cold atom accelerometers
    Alireza HosseiniArani LUH Hybdrid Accelerometers incl. Atom Interferometry
    Matthias Weigelt LUH Application of Gravity Data
    Alexey Kupriyanov LUH TerraQ B01 project: mission concepts with advanced laser technology
    Sahar Ebadi LUH TerraQ C04
    Akbar Shabanloui LUH IFE gravtiy field recovery
    Alexander Koch DLR-SI Laser Ranging Interferometers, Link Acquisition
    Manuel Schilling DLR-SI Novel Measurement Concepts
    Meike List DLR-SI Space Mission Simulator
    Andreas Leipner DLR-SI TerraQ B02 XHPS Space Mission Simulator
    Peter Weßels LZH Laser Development & Laser Instruments for Space
    Benny Rievers ZARM Space Mission Simulator
    Jens Grosse ZARM Laser Links
    Florian Wöske ZARM XHPS Space Mission Simulator
    Moritz Huckfeldt ZARM TerraQ B02 XHPS
    Timm Wegehaupt ZARM TerraQ B04 Experimental: Laser Frequency Stabilization

Last Change: 21.11.23; Dr. A. Wanner Print

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