Optical Clocks for Chronometric Levelling (A04)

• Subject Area: Optics, Quantum Optics and Physics of Atoms, Molecules and Plasmas ; Geodesy, Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing, Geoinformatics, Cartography
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 434617780

According to Einstein’s theory of general relativity, clocks in a gravitational potential tick slower than outside. We will use a self-developed transportable Sr lattice clock and an Al+ quantum logic clock to prove the feasibility of chronometric levelling by demonstrating off-campus height measurements with comparable or better resolution than geometric levelling and the GNSS/geoid approach can presently achieve. Moreover, we will apply our techniques to other geodetic issues relevant in TerraQ, such as the monitoring of water storage.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1464: Relativistic and quantum-based geodesy (TerraQ)
• Applicant Institution: Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität Hannover
• Co-Applicant Institution: Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB)
• Project Heads: Dr.-Ing. Heiner Denker; Privatdozent Dr. Christian Lisdat; Professor Dr. Piet Oliver Schmidt