Superconducting tensor gravity gradiometer

Abstract

A sensitive gravity gradiometer can provide much needed gravity data of the earth and improve the accuracy of inertial navigation. A complete determination of all five independent components of the gravity gradient tensor is possible in principle by rotating a single in-line component gradiometer. In order to avoid dynamically induced noise sources arising from rotation, a hard-mounted assembly of component gradiometers may nevertheless be advantageous in an ultra-sensitive device. Superconductivity and other properties of materials at low temperatures can be used to obtain a sensitive, low-drift, gravity gradiometer. By differencing the outputs of accelerometer pairs using superconducting circuits, it is possible to construct a non-rotating tensor gravity gradiometer. Additional superconducting circuits can be provided to determine the linear and angular acceleration vectors. A three-axis in-line gravity gradiometer (a “vector” gradiometer) is being developed for satellite geodesy. A two-dimensional spring concept for a three-axis cross component gradiometer is discussed. The superconducting tensor gravity gradiometer constitutes a complete package of inertial navigation instruments with angular and linear acceleration readouts as well as gravity signals. Accuracy of inertial navigation could be improved by use of such a gradiometeraided inertial navigator.