Quantum Technologies for Planetary Geodesy

Quantum Technologies have been rising in the past years. With commercial interest on the rise and finished products being made available, quantum-based gravitational field measurements are the first real-life application.

To realize a quantum gravimeter or a quantum gradiometer, here, atom interferometers are discussed. Atom interferometers function by subjecting a cloud of atoms to three successive laser beams. Due to the mass of the atoms, they are subject to outside accelerations. The effect of the acceleration is then seen in the phaseshift of the interferometeric signal in the readout ports. The achievable precission of the measurement is determined by the stability of the laser gratings and the temperature of the underlying atom ensemble. Consequently, the atom cloud is typically cooled to improve the measurement and the obtained signal.

Following that line of reasoning, atom interferometers allow for very precise and drift free measurements. This gives a strong advantage over classical systems, which always include residual friction and thereby drift in the measurement.

In this talk, I will give an overview over the state of the art of cold atoms in space and especially the most recent developments in Earth observation. I will then follow this up by discussing the opportunities of atom interferometers in planetary exploration with specific regards to underlying structures, (seasonal) changes, and planetary dynamics.

To illustrate the advantages, I will present the MaQuIs proposal, which is concerned with Mars and its gravitational field. In doing so, I will also cover the advantages and limitations of cold atom systems and hybridization concepts available to improve the signals.