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
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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: 10.1103/7ps8-317cKupriyanov 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-wHosseiniArani 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_172Knabe 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_151Nicklaus 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/rs14164089Yang 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/s22052070Meshksar 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/s21010164Yan 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/s00190-021-01498-5Zhong 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/rs13173491Heinzel 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, 10.15488/10598Müller 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, 10.15488/10716Wegener 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.A34790Wu H, Müller J. Towards an International Height Reference Frame Using Clock Networks. 2020. doi: 10.1007/1345_2020_97, 10.15488/14073Yang 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/s20174986Isleif 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, 10.15488/10435Trimeche 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
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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
