Recovery of the Earth's Gravity Field Based on Spaceborne Atom-interferometry and Its Accuracy Estimation

doi:10.11947/j.AGCS.2017.20170101

Abstract

Abstract: The electrostatic gravity gradiometer has been successfully applied as a core sensor in satellite gravity gradiometric mission GOCE, and its observations are used to recover the Earth's static gravity field with a degree and order above 200. The lifetime of GOCE has been over, and the next generation satellite gravity gradiometry with higher resolution is urgently required in order to recover the global steady-state gravity field with a degree and order of 200~360. High potential precision can be obtained in space by atom-interferometry gravity gradiometer due to its long interference time, and thus the atom-interferometry-based satellite gravity gradiometry has been proposed as one of the candidate techniques for the next satellite gravity gradiometric mission. In order to achieve the science goal for high resolution gravity field measurement in the future, a feasible scheme of atom-interferometry gravity gradiometry in micro-gravity environment is given in this paper, and the gravity gradient measurement can be achieved with a noise of 0.85mE/Hz^1/2. Comparison and estimation of the Earth's gravity field recovery precision for different types of satellite gravity gradiometry is discussed, and the results show that the satellite gravity gradiometry based on atom-interferometry is expected to provide the global gravity field model with an improved accuracy of 7~8cm in terms of geoid height and 3×10^-5 m/s² in terms of gravity anomaly respectively at a degree and order of 252~290.

Key words: Earth's gravity field, satellite gravity gradiometry, space-borne gravity gradiometer, atom-interferometry

CLC Number:

P223

ZHU Zhu, ZHAO Yanbin, LIAO He, TU Haibo, ZHANG Guowan, WEI Xiaogang. Recovery of the Earth's Gravity Field Based on Spaceborne Atom-interferometry and Its Accuracy Estimation[J]. Acta Geodaetica et Cartographica Sinica, 2017, 46(9): 1088-1097.

References

[1] FLOBERGHAGEN R, FEHRINGER M, LAMARRE D, et al. Mission Design, Operation and Exploitation of the Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer Mission[J]. Journal of Geodesy, 2011, 85(11):749-758.
[2] REIGBER C, SCHWINTZER P, NEUMAYER K H, et al. The CHAMP-Only Earth Gravity Field Model EIGEN-2[J]. Advances in Space Research, 2003, 31(8):1883-1888.
[3] 陈秋杰, 沈云中, 张兴福, 等. 基于GRACE卫星数据的高精度全球静态重力场模型[J]. 测绘学报, 2016, 45(4):396-403. DOI:10.11947/j.AGCS.2016.20150422. CHEN Qiujie, SHEN Yunzhong, ZHANG Xingfu, et al. GRACE Data-based High Accuracy Global Static Earth's Gravity Field Model[J]. Acta Geodaetica et Cartographica Sinica, 2016, 45(4):396-403. DOI:10.11947/j.AGCS.2016.20150422.
[4] MARCHENKO A N, MARCHENKO D A, LOPUSHANSKY A N. Gravity Field Models Derived from the Second Degree Radial Derivatives of the GOCE Mission:A Case Study[J]. Annals of Geophysics, 2016, 59(6):S0649.
[5] LOOMIS B D, NEREM R S, LUTHCKE S B. Simulation Study of a Follow-on Gravity Mission to GRACE[J]. Journal of Geodesy, 2012, 86(5):319-335.
[6] 宁津生, 王正涛, 超能芳. 国际新一代卫星重力探测计划研究现状与进展[J]. 武汉大学学报(信息科学版), 2016, 41(1):1-8. NING Jinsheng, WANG Zhengtao, CHAO Nengfang. Research Status and Progress in International Next-generation Satellite Gravity Measurement Missions[J]. Geomatics and Information Science of Wuhan University, 2016, 41(1):1-8.
[7] ESA. The Four Candidate Earth Explorer Core Missions-Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Mission (ESA SP-1233(1))[R]. Noordwijk:ESA Publications Division, 1999.
[8] RUMMEL R, YI Weiyong, STUMMER C. GOCE Gravitational Gradiometry[J]. Journal of Geodesy, 2011, 85(11):777-790.
[9] 徐新禹, 赵永奇, 魏辉, 等. 利用先验重力场模型对GOCE卫星重力梯度观测值进行校准分析[J]. 测绘学报, 2015, 44(11):1196-1201. DOI:10.11947/j.AGCS.2015.20140414. XU Xinyu, ZHAO Yongqi, WEI Hui, et al. Calibration and Analysis of SGG Observations of GOCE Based on Prior Gravity Models[J]. Acta Geodaetica et Cartographica Sinica, 2015, 44(11):1196-1201. DOI:10.11947/j.AGCS.2015.20140414.
[10] CARRAZ O, SIEMES C, MASSOTTI L, et al. A Spaceborne Gravity Gradiometer Concept Based on Cold Atom Interferometers for Measuring Earth's Gravity Field[J]. Microgravity Science and Technology, 2014, 26(3):139-145.
[11] ZHU Zhu, ZHOU Zebing, CAI Lin, et al. Electrostatic Gravity Gradiometer Design for the Future Mission[J]. Advances in Space Research, 2013, 51(12):2269-2276.
[12] PAIK H J. Superconducting Accelerometry:Its Principles and Applications[J]. Classical and Quantum Gravity, 1994, 11(6A):A133-A144.
[13] MALEKI L, YU Nan, KOHEL J. Quantum Gravity Gradiometer for Sub-surface Imaging[C]//Space 2004 Conference and Exhibit. San Diego, California:AIAA, 2004.
[14] YU Nan, KOHEL J M, KELLOGG J R, et al. Development of an Atom-Interferometer Gravity Gradiometer for Gravity Measurement from Space[J]. Applied Physics B, 2006, 84(4):647-652.
[15] 翟振和, 吴富梅. 基于原子干涉测量技术的卫星重力梯度测量[J]. 测绘通报, 2007(2):5-6, 36. ZHAI Zhenhe, WU Fumei. Satellite Gravity Gradiometry Based on Atom Interferometry Technique[J]. Bulletin of Surveying and Mapping, 2007(2):5-6, 36.
[16] YU Nan, KOHEL J M, ROMANS L, et al. Quantum Gravity Gradiometer Sensor for Earth Science Applications[C]//NASA Earth Science and Technology Conference 2002. Pasadena, CA:Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 2002.
[17] NYMAN R A, VAROQUAUX G, LIENHART F, et al. I.C.E.:A Transportable Atomic Inertial Sensor for Test in Microgravity[J]. Applied Physics B, 2006, 84(4):673-681.
[18] KÖNEMANN T, BRINKMANN W, GÖKLVE, et al. A Freely Falling Magneto-Optical Trap Drop Tower Experiment[J]. Applied Physics B, 2007, 89(4):431-438.
[19] GEIGER R, MÉNORET V, STERN G, et al. Detecting Inertial Effects with Airborne Matter-Wave Interferometry[J]. Nature Communications, 2011(2):474.
[20] SORRENTINO F, BONGS K, BOUYER P, et al. The Space Atom Interferometer Project:Status and Prospects[J]. Journal of Physics:Conference Series, 2011(327):012050
[21] 郑伟, 许厚泽, 钟敏, 等. 国际卫星重力梯度测量计划研究进展[J]. 测绘科学, 2010, 35(2):57-61. ZHENG Wei, XU Houze, ZHONG Min, et al. Study Progress in International Satellite Gravity Gradiometry Programs[J]. Science of Surveying and Mapping, 2010, 35(2):57-61.
[22] 王谦身. 重力学[M]. 北京:地震出版社, 2003. WANG Qianshen. Gravitology[M]. Beijing:Seismological Press, 2003.
[23] RUMMEL R, BALMINO G, JOHANNESSEN J, et al. Dedicated Gravity Field Missions-principles and Aims[J]. Journal of Geodynamics, 2002, 33(1-2):3-20.
[24] 蔡林, 周泽兵, 祝竺, 等. 卫星重力梯度恢复地球重力场的频谱分析[J]. 地球物理学报, 2012, 55(5):1565-1571. CAI Lin, ZHOU Zebing, ZHU Zhu, et al. Spectral Analysis for Recovering the Earth's Gravity Potential by Satellite Gravity Gradients[J]. Chinese Journal of Geophysics, 2012, 55(5):1565-1571.
[25] MVLLER J, WERMUT M. GOCE Gradients in Various Reference Frames and Their Accuracies[J]. Advances in Geosciences, 2003(1):33-38.
[26] AMELINO-CAMELIA G, APLIN K, ARNDT M, et al. GAUGE:The GrAnd Unification and Gravity Explorer[J]. Experimental Astronomy, 2009, 23(2):549-572.
[27] 祝竺,白彦峥,段小春, 等. 卫星重力梯度测量中星载重力梯度仪潜在测量精度研究[J]. 地球物理学进展, 2017, 32(2):559-565. ZHU Zhu, BAI Yanzheng, DUAN Xiaochun, et al. Potential Resolution Research of Space-borne Gravity Gradiometer for Satellite Gravity Gradiometry[J]. Progress in Geophysics, 2017, 32(2):559-565.
[28] CAI Lin, ZHOU Zebing, HSU H, et al. Analytical Error Analysis for Satellite Gravity Field Determination Based on Two-dimensional Fourier Method[J]. Journal of Geodesy, 2012, 87(5):417-426.
[29] HU Zhongkun, DUAN Xiaochun, ZHOU Minkang, et al. Simultaneous Differential Measurement of a Magnetic-field Gradient by Atom Interferometry Using Double Fountains[J]. Physical Review A, 2011, 84(1):013620.