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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
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
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)
Date Acquired
June 7, 2017
Publication Date
June 5, 2017
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Report/Patent Number
GSFC-E-DAA-TN43191
Meeting Information
Meeting: Annual DAMOP Meeting
Location: Sacramento, CA
Country: United States
Start Date: June 5, 2017
End Date: June 9, 2017
Sponsors: American Physical Society
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.

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