Development of an Atom Interferometer Gravity Gradiometer for Earth SciencesWe report progress towards a prototype atom interferometer gravity gradiometer for Earth science studies from a satellite in low Earth orbit.The terrestrial prototype has a target sensitivity of 8 x 10(exp -2) E/Hz(sup 1/2) and consists of two atom sources running simultaneous interferometers with interrogation time T = 300 ms and 12 hk photon recoils, separated by a baseline of 2 m. By employing Raman side band cooling and magnetic lensing, we will generate atomic ensembles with N = 10(exp 6) atoms at a temperature of 3 nK. The sensitivity extrapolates to 7 x 10(exp -5) E/Hz(sup 1/2) in microgravity on board a satellite. Simulations derived from this sensitivity demonstrate a monthly time-variable gravity accuracy of 1 cm equivalent water height at 200 km resolution, yielding an improvement over GRACE by 1-2 orders of magnitude. A gravity gradiometer with this sensitivity would also benefit future planetary, lunar, and asteroidal missions.
Document ID
20170005272
Document Type
Presentation
Authors
Rakholia, A. (Aosense, Inc. Sunnyvale, CA, United States)
Sugarbaker, A. (Aosense, Inc. Sunnyvale, CA, United States)
Black, A. (Aosense, Inc. Sunnyvale, CA, United States)
Kasecivh, M. (Aosense, Inc. Sunnyvale, CA, United States)
Saif, B. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Luthcke, S. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Callahan, L. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Seery, B. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Feinberg, L. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Mather, J. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Keski-Kuha, R. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)