Leibniz Universität Hannover Faculty Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geodetic Science
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Institute of Geodesy
 
Institute of Geodesy Research Research Projects

EXC-2123 QuantumFrontiers

  • Relativistic investigations with LLR data
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Jürgen Müller
    Team: Dr.-Ing. Liliane Biskupek
    Year: 2019
    Funding: Germany’s Excellence Strategy – EXC-2123 QuantumFrontiers (DFG)
    Duration: 2019 - 2025
  • Differential Lunar Laser Ranging
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Jürgen Müller
    Team: M. Sc. Mingyue Zhang
    Year: 2021
    Funding: Germany’s Excellence Strategy – EXC-2123 QuantumFrontiers (DFG), DLR-SI
    Duration: 2021 - 2022

CRC 1464 (TerraQ)

  • Terrestrial Clock Networks: Fundamental Physics and Applications (CRC 1464, C02)
    The continuous developments of optical clocks and the long-distance links via fibers, especially within TerraQ, will give access to terrestrial clock networks in practice, which will enable the novel measurement concept of chronometric levelling. From a theoretical perspective, this project will elaborate the rigorous relativistic formalism for clock-based geodesy and assess the effects of approximations in different scenarios. Furthermore, this project will figure out the most promising applications for clock networks in geodesy and fundamental physics.
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jürgen Müller, Prof. Dr. Claus Lämmerzahl
    Team: Marion Cepok, Asha Vincent
    Year: 2021
    Funding: DFG
  • Interferometric Fibre Links (CRC 1464, A05)
    The overarching goal, to establish chronometric levelling as a routine tool for geodesy, requires research and developments for high precision frequency transfer in the areas of Interferometric Fibre Links (IFLs) and Global Naviation Satellite System - Frequency Transfer (GNSS-FT). The development of fieldable IFLs equipment, ultraprecise GNSS-FT and their use for chronometric levelling, are new areas of research and development, which will open up many applications of geodetic interest. We aim to realise an island-mainland chronometric levelling campaign using IFL and GNSS-FT, and the transportable optical clocks developed in A04.
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Schön, Dr. Jochen Kronjäger
    Team: Ahmed Elmaghraby, Dr. Thomas Krawinkel, Dr. Alexander Kuhl, Shambo Mukherjee
    Year: 2021
    Funding: DFG
  • Optical Clocks for Chronometric Levelling (CRC 1464, A04)
    We will realise the potential of chronometric levelling by demonstrating off-campus height measurements with the same or better resolution than geometric levelling and the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)/geoid approach can presently achieve, in joint campaigns with project A05. This demonstration will be strengthened by the application of our measurement capabilities to geodetic problems of high relevance through cooperation with the TerraQ projects employing gravimetric and GNSS techniques to e.g. monitor water storage and other mass changes (projects Terrestrial Clock Networks: Fundamental Physics and Applications (C02), Modelling of Mass Variations Down to Small Scales by Quantum Sensor Fusion (C05), and Atmosphere-Ocean Background Modelling for Terrestrial Gravimetry (C06)).
    Led by: PD Dr. Christian Lisdat, Prof. Dr. Piet O. Schmidt, Dr.-Ing. Denker
    Team: Tim Lücke, Constantin Nauk
    Year: 2021
    Funding: DFG
  • Validation of Quantum Gravimeter QG-1 for Hydrology (CRC 1464, C01)
    For the groundwater management in central Europe, ground-based gravimetry provides a unique potential to monitor temporal variations in the subsurface water content for local areas. The atomic Quantum Gravimeter-1 (QG-1) of Leibniz Universität Hannover (LUH) is in its final phase of development (A01) and will be ready for geodetic and gravimetric applications latest in 2021. The QG-1 capability will be demonstrated indoor and also in a field application as an advanced absolute gravimeter allowing effectively the surveying of gravity variations due to groundwater changes on the uncertainty level of 10 nm/s².
    Led by: Dr.-Ing. Heiner Denker, Dr.-Ing. Ludger Timmen
    Team: Dinesh Chebolu
    Year: 2021
    Funding: DFG
  • Gravity Field Solution by Exploiting the Full Potential of GRACE Follow-On (SFB 1464, C04)
    The overall aim of this project is to take maximum advantage of the data of the GRACE and GRACE-FO missions and derive the best possible time-variable gravity field with monthly and daily solution. We anticipate an increased spatial resolution and a reduction of systematic errors due to improved background modelling and co-estimation of geophysical and instrumental parameters.
    Led by: Dr. Matthias Weigelt, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Torsten Mayer-Gürr
    Team: Sahar Ebadi
    Year: 2021
    Funding: DFG
  • Quantum Gravimetry (CRC 1464, A01)
    Within TerraQ we aim to establish atom-chip based Quantum Gravimetry with Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) and explore its potential for mobile gravimetry. Deploying QG-1 (Quantum Gravimeter) with steadily increasing frequency and performance in measurement campaigns for C01, A05 and C05 will allow us to prove the in-field applicability of the associated methods and demonstrate an operation of QG-1 under varying, rough conditions.
    Led by: Dr. Waldemar Herr, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jürgen Müller, Prof. Dr. Ernst Rasel
    Team: Nina Heine, Marat Musakaev
    Year: 2021
    Funding: DFG
  • Atmosphere-Ocean Background Modelling for Terrestrial Gravimetry (CRC 1464, C06)
    We will focus on the development of global background models of atmosphere and ocean dynamics that are applicable to gravity records taken anywhere at the Earth’s surface. The background models will be split into deformation effects that also consider the laterally heterogeneous rheology of the Earth’s crust, regional-to-global attraction effects of both atmospheric and oceanic mass variability along the strategy outlined by, and the local effects from the direct vicinity of the sensor that are most sensible to the local topographic roughness and that might benefit most from a possible augmentation with barometric observations taken around the gravity sensor.
    Led by: Dr. Henryk Dobslaw, Dr.-Ing. Ludger Timmen
    Team: Dr. Kyriakos Balidakis
    Year: 2021
    Funding: DFG
  • Modelling of Mass Variations Down to Small Scales by Quantum Sensor Fusion (CRC 1464, C05)
    Observing the temporal variations of the Earth gravity field by satellite gravimetry, terrestrial gravimetry or loading time series via GNSS gives insight into the temporal and spatial changes in the distribution of water on various scales. The overall aim of this project is to develop models of regional time-variable gravity (or, equivalently, of total water storage variations) at uttermost high spatial and temporal resolution by the consistent integration of the various geodetic sensors. The project thus tackles one of the currently most pressing challenges in geodesy and its dependent geophysical applications.
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Annette Eicker, Prof. Dr. Andreas Günther, Dr. Matthias Weigelt
    Team: Marvin Reich
    Year: 2021
    Funding: DFG
  • New Measurement Concepts with Laser Interferometers (CRC 1464, B01)
    We will study a new type of optical accelerometer (ACC) and gradiometer, advance Laser Ranging Interferometry (LRI) technology conceptually to enable new satellite constellations, and investigate observations of the angular line-of-sight velocity for gravity field recovery with simulations.
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jürgen Müller, Dr. Vitali Müller
    Team: Alexey Kupriyanov, Arthur Reis
    Year: 2021
    Funding: DFG
    Duration: 2021-2024

Terrestrial Gravimetry

  • Absolute gravimetry in Denmark
    Led by: Dr.-Ing. Ludger Timmen
    Team: Dipl.-Ing. Olga Gitlein
    Year: 2003
  • Improved compensation of vibrational noise in the laser interferometer with applications in absolute gravimetry
    Led by: Dr. Sergiy Svitlov
    Year: 2011
    Funding: DFG
    Duration: 2011 - 2018
  • A mobile absolute gravimeter based on atom interferometry for highly accurate point observations
    Atom interferometers have demonstrated a high sensitivity to inertial forces. The Gravimetric Atom Interferometer (GAIN), developed at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, is a mobile atom interferometer based on interfering ensembles of laser-cooled Rb-87 atoms in an atomic fountain configuration. In the continued development state-of-the-art superconductiong gravimeters and laser-interferometer based absolute gravimeters are used for comparisons with and the characterization of GAIN.
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jürgen Müller
    Team: M. Sc. Manuel Schilling
    Year: 2012
    Funding: DFG
    © IFE / M. Schilling
  • Traceability of the FG5X-220 to the SI units
    The Micro-g LaCoste FG5 is a free-fall gravimeter with a laser interferometer in Mach-Zehnder configuration which uses simultaneous time and distance measurements to calculate the absolute value of g. The instrument itself contains the necessary standards, a rubidium oscillator and a He-Ne Laser, and operates independent of external references. These internal standards need regular comparisons.
    Led by: Dr.-Ing. Ludger Timmen
    Team: Dr.-Ing. Ludger Timmen, M. Sc. Manuel Schilling
    Year: 2012
    © IfE / M. Schilling
  • Establishing an Advanced Mexican Gravity Standardization Base
    This joint research project serves for following main scientific objectives: a) supporting the realization of a state of the art national gravity standard in Mexico fulfilling highest accuracy demands in metrology, b) supporting the establishment of a base for a national reference frame for geo-scientific purposes, c) supporting the improvement of a global gravity potential field model for fundamental research in earth science
    Led by: Dr.-Ing. Ludger Timmen
    Team: Dr.-Ing. Ludger Timmen, Dr.-Ing. Manuel Schilling
    Year: 2016
    Funding: Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt Braunschweig
  • Gravimetric reference network for a 10m atom interferometer
    The Very Long Baseline Atom Interferometer (VLBAI) at the Hannover Institute for Technology (HITec) is a physics instrument in which experiments on the interferometry of atoms can be carried out over a free-fall distance of about 10m. These experiments are mainly used for fundamental physics, but gravimetric measurements can also be performed. Due to the large fall distance and the resulting long fall time of the atoms, a future accuracy in the range of 1 nm/s² is anticipated. With classical transportable absolute gravimeters, however, some tens nm/s² are achieved. The VLBAI could therefore be a reference for classical gravimeters. For these experiments and for the evaluation of the error budget, however, knowledge of the local gravitational field is necessary. This will be determined in parallel to the installation of the large-scale instrument and further on by gravimetric measurements and forward modelling.
    Led by: Dr.-Ing. Manuel Schilling, Dr.-Ing. Ludger Timmen
    Team: Dr.-Ing. Manuel Schilling, Dr.-Ing. Ludger Timmen
    Year: 2017
    Funding: IfE, SFB-1128, EXC-2123 "QuantumFrontiers"
    Duration: 2017-2025
    © M. Schilling
  • Gravimetric Tides and Gravity Currents in the North Sea
    The research group is investigating the gravity and deformation (tilt) effect caused by time variations of the mass distribution in the atmosphere and in the sea. It has to be distinguished between the direct Newtonian attraction effects and indirect loading effects. The latter part is accompanied by a vertical shift and a tilt of the sea floor as well as the land surface, especially along the coast or on islands, because of the elasticity of the solid Earth’s crust. Such a vertical ground displacement is associated with an absolute height change of the gravimeter w.r.t. the geocenter. The combined observation of gravity and tilt changes allows the separation of signals due to attraction and load deformation.
    Led by: Dr.-Ing. Ludger Timmen, Dr. Adelheid Weise
    Team: Dr.-Ing. Ludger Timmen, Dr. Adelheid Weise
    Year: 2018
    Funding: IfE, Germany’s Excellence Strategy – EXC-2123 “QuantumFrontiers”
    Duration: 2018-2021
  • Gravimetry at Zugspitze and Wank Mountains (Bavarian Alps, Germany)
    The geodetic monitoring of variations caused by Alpine orogency and the diminishing permafrost are undertaken with gravimetric as well as geometric techniques. In addition to IfE (absolute and relative gravimetry, levelling), the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities (GNSS, levelling, relative gravimetry), the Institute of Astronomical and Physical Geodesy - Technical University of Munich (relative gravimetry) and the Helmholtz Centre Potsdam - GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences (superconducting gravimetry, GNSS permanent geodynamic observatory on the Zugspitze) are involved in the cooperation.
    Led by: Dr.-Ing. Ludger Timmen
    Year: 2018
    Funding: IFE, Germany’s Excellence Strategy – EXC-2123 “QuantumFrontiers”, GFZ Potsdam, TU München, Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  • Optical Clocks for Chronometric Levelling (CRC 1464, A04)
    We will realise the potential of chronometric levelling by demonstrating off-campus height measurements with the same or better resolution than geometric levelling and the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)/geoid approach can presently achieve, in joint campaigns with project A05. This demonstration will be strengthened by the application of our measurement capabilities to geodetic problems of high relevance through cooperation with the TerraQ projects employing gravimetric and GNSS techniques to e.g. monitor water storage and other mass changes (projects Terrestrial Clock Networks: Fundamental Physics and Applications (C02), Modelling of Mass Variations Down to Small Scales by Quantum Sensor Fusion (C05), and Atmosphere-Ocean Background Modelling for Terrestrial Gravimetry (C06)).
    Led by: PD Dr. Christian Lisdat, Prof. Dr. Piet O. Schmidt, Dr.-Ing. Denker
    Team: Tim Lücke, Constantin Nauk
    Year: 2021
    Funding: DFG
  • Validation of Quantum Gravimeter QG-1 for Hydrology (CRC 1464, C01)
    For the groundwater management in central Europe, ground-based gravimetry provides a unique potential to monitor temporal variations in the subsurface water content for local areas. The atomic Quantum Gravimeter-1 (QG-1) of Leibniz Universität Hannover (LUH) is in its final phase of development (A01) and will be ready for geodetic and gravimetric applications latest in 2021. The QG-1 capability will be demonstrated indoor and also in a field application as an advanced absolute gravimeter allowing effectively the surveying of gravity variations due to groundwater changes on the uncertainty level of 10 nm/s².
    Led by: Dr.-Ing. Heiner Denker, Dr.-Ing. Ludger Timmen
    Team: Dinesh Chebolu
    Year: 2021
    Funding: DFG
  • Quantum Gravimetry (CRC 1464, A01)
    Within TerraQ we aim to establish atom-chip based Quantum Gravimetry with Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) and explore its potential for mobile gravimetry. Deploying QG-1 (Quantum Gravimeter) with steadily increasing frequency and performance in measurement campaigns for C01, A05 and C05 will allow us to prove the in-field applicability of the associated methods and demonstrate an operation of QG-1 under varying, rough conditions.
    Led by: Dr. Waldemar Herr, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jürgen Müller, Prof. Dr. Ernst Rasel
    Team: Nina Heine, Marat Musakaev
    Year: 2021
    Funding: DFG
  • Atmosphere-Ocean Background Modelling for Terrestrial Gravimetry (CRC 1464, C06)
    We will focus on the development of global background models of atmosphere and ocean dynamics that are applicable to gravity records taken anywhere at the Earth’s surface. The background models will be split into deformation effects that also consider the laterally heterogeneous rheology of the Earth’s crust, regional-to-global attraction effects of both atmospheric and oceanic mass variability along the strategy outlined by, and the local effects from the direct vicinity of the sensor that are most sensible to the local topographic roughness and that might benefit most from a possible augmentation with barometric observations taken around the gravity sensor.
    Led by: Dr. Henryk Dobslaw, Dr.-Ing. Ludger Timmen
    Team: Dr. Kyriakos Balidakis
    Year: 2021
    Funding: DFG

Gravity Field and Geoid Modelling

  • GOCE-GRavitationsfeldANalyse Deutschland – GOCE-GRAND II WP220 – Regionales Validierungs- und Kombinationsexperiment
    Within the framework of the project, high-quality validated terrestrial gravity field data sets (in particular deflections of the vertical and gravity data) were generated in Germany and Europe for the external validation of GOCE products. These data were used for the validation of existing satellite gravity models on the one hand and for the calculation of corresponding combined quasigeoid solutions for Germany and Europe on the other hand.
    Led by: Dr.-Ing. Heiner Denker (WP220 - IfE)
    Team: Dr.-Ing. Christian Voigt
    Year: 2005
    Funding: Research and development programme GEOTECHNOLOGIEN, funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the German Research Foundation (DFG), Förderkennz. 03F0421D
    Duration: 01.09.2005 – 31.08.2008
  • The recovery of Earth’s global gravity field from GOCE observations
    The ESA’s GOCE (Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer) mission was the first to jointly apply SGG (satellite gravity gradiometry) and SST-hl (satellite-to-satellite high-low tracking) techniques to map the Earth’s gravity field. It delivered hundreds of millions of observations in four years’ lifetime, from 2009 to 2013. My Ph.D work is to recover a global gravity field model that is described by 62,997 spherical harmonic coefficients (up to degree/order 250) from the huge amount of GOCE observations.
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jürgen Müller
    Team: Dr.-Ing. Hu Wu
    Year: 2011
    Funding: Stipendium
    Duration: 2011-2016
  • High-resolution modeling of geoid-quasigeoid separation
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jakob Flury
    Year: 2013
  • Regional gravity field modeling & relativistic geodesy (CRC 1128, C04)
    Led by: Dr.-Ing. Heiner Denker
    Team: Dr.-Ing. Miao Lin
    Year: 2014
    Funding: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)
    Duration: 01.07.2014 – 30.06.2018
  • Modelling of Mass Variations Down to Small Scales by Quantum Sensor Fusion (CRC 1464, C05)
    Observing the temporal variations of the Earth gravity field by satellite gravimetry, terrestrial gravimetry or loading time series via GNSS gives insight into the temporal and spatial changes in the distribution of water on various scales. The overall aim of this project is to develop models of regional time-variable gravity (or, equivalently, of total water storage variations) at uttermost high spatial and temporal resolution by the consistent integration of the various geodetic sensors. The project thus tackles one of the currently most pressing challenges in geodesy and its dependent geophysical applications.
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Annette Eicker, Prof. Dr. Andreas Günther, Dr. Matthias Weigelt
    Team: Marvin Reich
    Year: 2021
    Funding: DFG
  • Quantum-based acceleration measurement on geodesy satellites (Q-BAGS)
    Collaboration between the Observatoire de Paris Department Systèmes de référence temps-espace (SYRTE) and the Institute of Geodesy (IfE) of Leibniz Universität Hannover (LUH) embedded in the QUANTA research cooperation between Germany and France.
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Jürgen Müller
    Team: Annike Knabe
    Year: 2021
    Funding: BMWK / DLR e.V. (50WM2181)
    Duration: 10/2021 - 09/2024

Relativistic Geodesy

  • Relativistic effects in satellite constellations (CRC 1128, C02)
    Led by: Dr.-Ing. habil. Enrico Mai, Dr. Eva Hackmann (ZARM), Prof. Dr. Claus Lämmerzahl (ZARM)
    Team: Dr.-Ing. Liliane Biskupek, PD Dr. Volker Perlick (ZARM), Dennis Philipp (ZARM)
    Year: 2014
    Funding: DFG
  • Clock network modeling (CRC 1128, C03)
    Led by: Prof. Dr. Jürgen Müller, Prof. Dr. Claus Lämmerzahl
    Team: Dr.-Ing. Hu Wu
    Year: 2014
    Funding: DFG
  • Transportable optical clock for relativistic geodesy (CRC 1128/2, A03)
    Led by: Priv.-Doz. Dr. Christian Lisdat, Prof. Dr. Piet O. Schmidt, Dr.-Ing. Heiner Denker
    Team: Coworker of the Physikalisch-Technischen Bundesanstalt (PTB)
    Year: 2018
    Funding: German Research Foundation (DFG)
    Duration: 01.07.2018 – 30.06.2019
  • Relativistic investigations with LLR data
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Jürgen Müller
    Team: Dr.-Ing. Liliane Biskupek
    Year: 2019
    Funding: Germany’s Excellence Strategy – EXC-2123 QuantumFrontiers (DFG)
    Duration: 2019 - 2025
  • Chronometrisches Nivellement
    Led by: Dr.-Ing. Heiner Denker
    Team: Dr.-Ing. Heiner Denker und weitere Mitarbeiter
    Year: 2019
    Funding: verschiedene Landes- und Drittmittel sowie separate Projekte
    Duration: seit 2010
  • High-performance clock networks and their application in geodesy
    The rapid development of optical clocks and frequency transfer techniques provides the opportunity to compare clocks’ frequencies at the uncertainty level of 10-18. This will enable relativistic geodesy with the aimed accuracy of cm in terms of height. Clock networks are thus highly relevant to various geodetic applications, such as the realization of a height reference system and the determination of regional/global gravity fields. In this project, we aim to investigate the potential of high-performance clock networks and quantify their contributions to specific applications through dedicated simulations.
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jürgen Müller
    Team: Dr.-Ing. Hu Wu
    Year: 2019
    Funding: Germany’s Excellence Strategy – EXC-2123 “QuantumFrontiers” (DFG)
  • Improved modelling of the Earth-Moon system
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jürgen Müller
    Team: Vishwa Vijay Singh, M.Sc.
    Year: 2020
    Funding: DLR-SI
    Duration: 2019 - 2022
  • Terrestrial Clock Networks: Fundamental Physics and Applications (CRC 1464, C02)
    The continuous developments of optical clocks and the long-distance links via fibers, especially within TerraQ, will give access to terrestrial clock networks in practice, which will enable the novel measurement concept of chronometric levelling. From a theoretical perspective, this project will elaborate the rigorous relativistic formalism for clock-based geodesy and assess the effects of approximations in different scenarios. Furthermore, this project will figure out the most promising applications for clock networks in geodesy and fundamental physics.
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jürgen Müller, Prof. Dr. Claus Lämmerzahl
    Team: Marion Cepok, Asha Vincent
    Year: 2021
    Funding: DFG
  • Differential Lunar Laser Ranging
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Jürgen Müller
    Team: M. Sc. Mingyue Zhang
    Year: 2021
    Funding: Germany’s Excellence Strategy – EXC-2123 QuantumFrontiers (DFG), DLR-SI
    Duration: 2021 - 2022

Satellite Gravimetry

  • GOCE-GRavitationsfeldANalyse Deutschland – GOCE-GRAND AP6 – Bestimmung äußerer Eichfaktoren und Validierung der Ergebnisse
    The project investigated methods for calibration and validation of GOCE results with external gravity field data.
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Reiner Rummel
    Team: Dr.-Ing. Heiner Denker, Dr.-Ing. Focke Jarecki, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jürgen Müller, Dr.-Ing. Karen Insa Wolf
    Year: 2002
    Funding: Research and development programme GEOTECHNOLOGIEN, funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the German Research Foundation (DFG)
    Duration: 01.01.2002 – 31.12.2004
  • Earth System Mass Transport Mission (e.motion)
    Led by: Jakob Flury
    Year: 2013
  • Fusion of ranging, accelerometry, and attitude sensing in the multi-sensor system for laserinterferometric inter-satellite ranging (CRC 1128, B02)
    The quality of gravity field results obtained from GRACE and GRACE Follow-On inter-satellite ranging does not only depend on the ranging measurement accuracy. Equally important is the quality of the integration in the multi-sensor system consisting of inter-satellite ranging, GNSS orbit tracking, accelerometry, and attitude sensing, and the performance of this system as a whole. The system performance is influenced, e.g., by star camera attitude performance, by the characteristics of satellite pointing jitter coupling, by inaccurate knowledge and instabilities of phase centers and alignments, and by accelerometer signal disturbances.
    Led by: Prof. Jakob Flury, Dr. Gerhard Heinzel
    Team: M.Sc. Santoshkumar Burla, Henry Wegener, Dr. Akbar Shabanloui
    Year: 2014
    Funding: DFG
    Duration: 2014-2018
  • High performance satellite formation flight simulator (CRC 1128, B05)
    Led by: Dr. Meike List (ZARM), Dr.-Ing. Benny Rievers (ZARM)
    Team: Guy Apelbaum, Dr. Takahiro Kato , Florian Wöske, Dr. Sergiy Svitlov, Dr. rer. nat. Ertan Göklü, Stefanie Bremer
    Year: 2014
    Funding: DFG
  • System studies for an optical gradiometer mission (CRC 1128, B07)
    Led by: Dr. Gerhard Heinzel, Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Jürgen Müller
    Team: Dr. Karim Douch, Brigitte Kaune, Dr. Akbar Shabanloui
    Year: 2014
    Funding: DFG
  • Data analysis challenge for the GRACE-FO community (CRC 1128, B04)
    Led by: Dr.-Ing. Majid Naeimi, Dr. Martin Hewitson, Dr. Meike List
    Team: Dr. Neda Darbeheshti
    Year: 2015
    Funding: DFG
  • Hybridization of Classic and Quantum Accelerometers for Future Satellite Gravity Missions
    Using cold atom interferometry (CAI) accelerometers in the next generation of satellite gravimetry missions can provide long-term stability and precise measurements of the non-gravitational forces acting on the satellites. This allows for a reduction of systematic effects in current GRACE-FO gravity field solutions. In this project, we first aim to investigate the hybridization of quantum CAI-based and classical accelerometers for a GRACE-like mission and we discusse the performance improvement through dedicated simulations. Then we investigate different orbital configurations and mission concepts to find the optimal setting for future satellite gravimetry missions.
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Müller
    Team: Dr. Alireza HosseiniArani
    Year: 2020
  • New Measurement Concepts with Laser Interferometers (CRC 1464, B01)
    We will study a new type of optical accelerometer (ACC) and gradiometer, advance Laser Ranging Interferometry (LRI) technology conceptually to enable new satellite constellations, and investigate observations of the angular line-of-sight velocity for gravity field recovery with simulations.
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jürgen Müller, Dr. Vitali Müller
    Team: Alexey Kupriyanov, Arthur Reis
    Year: 2021
    Funding: DFG
    Duration: 2021-2024

Antenna Calibration

  • Gewinn eines grundlegenden Verständnisses der Mehrwege - Antennen - Empfänger - Interaktionen zur Standardisierung der Kalibrierung von Codephasenvariationen von GNSS-Empfangsantennen
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Schön, Dr.-Ing. Tobias Kersten
    Team: Yannick Breva
    Year: 2022
    Funding: DFG, Project number: 470510446
  • Accurate prediction of GNSS antenna performance in automotive scenarios - Accurauto
    The German federal state authorities operate GNSS correction data services for precise localisation using satellite navigation systems (GNSS). However, this data is seldom used for vehicle localisation. However, the reason for this is that large errors are caused by the vehicle's receiving antennas. Low-cost vehicle antennas have been measured to have errors of up to several metres, and strong correlations with vehicle type and installation location have been demonstrated. This leads to unresolved challenges in the calibration of GNSS receiving antennas for vehicles.
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Schön
    Team: Johannes Kröger, M.Sc.
    Year: 2024
    Funding: Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV), grant number: 19F1189B

GNSS and Inertial Navigation

  • Investigations of distance dependent systematic effects
    Correction models for distance dependent effects in small GPS networks
    Led by: Dr.-Ing. Steffen Schön
    Team: Dr.-Ing. Steffen Schön
    Year: 2006
  • Assessment of remaining systematic effects by interval mathematics
    Assessment of remaining systematic effects by interval mathematics
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Schön
    Year: 2006
    Funding: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)
  • Bürgernahes Flugzeug
    Improvement of quality and decrease of signal loss during GNSS-based curved landing approaches as part of the development of a "Metropolitain Aircraft".
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Schön
    Team: Dipl.-Ing. Franziska Kube
    Year: 2011
    Funding: Government of Lower Saxony
  • Navigation und Positionierung in difficult enviornments
    Analyse of High-Sensitivity GNSS Sensors
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Schön
    Team: Dipl.-Ing. Olaf Bielenberg
    Year: 2011
  • Modelling physical correlation of GNSS phase observations by means of turbulence theory
    Modelling of physikal Correlations on GNSS Phase Observables using the Approach of turbulence theory
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Schön
    Team: Dr.-Ing. Markus Vennebusch
    Year: 2011
    Funding: DFG (SCHO 1314/1-1).
  • Modeling and correction of GNSS multipath effect through Software receiver and Ray tracing
    Describing Multipath by Software receiver and Ray tracing.
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Schön
    Team: M.Sc. Marios Smyrnaios
    Year: 2011
    Funding: BMWI and German Aerospace Center (DLR)
  • Turbulence investigations and improved modelling of atmospheric refraction with VLBI and GNSS
    Improved characterization of refractivity fluctuations, determination of turbulence parameters and enhanced modelling of neutrospheric refraction effects
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Schön
    Team: Dipl.-Ing. Franziska Kube
    Year: 2012
    Funding: DFG (SCHO 1314/3-1)
  • Verbesserte Positionierung und Navigation durch konsistente Multi-GNSS Antennenkorrekturen
    Investigation of effects of code phase delays (GDV) on the GNSS-based positioning and navigation as well as the development of a method for an adequate comparison of different calibration results.
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Schön
    Team: Dipl.-Ing. Tobias Kersten
    Year: 2012
    Funding: BMWI | 50NA1216
  • Kinematic GNSS positioning of Low Earth Orbiters (CRC 1128, B03)
    Strengthening the accuracy of kinematic orbits of Low Earth Orbiters through an adopted Precise Point Positioning (PPP) enhanced by GNSS Receiver Clock Modeling and the concept of a Virtual Receiver is the overall objective of this project.
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Schön
    Team: M.Sc. Christoph Wallat
    Year: 2014
    Funding: DFG
  • Integrity Monitoring for Network RTK Systems
    From the advent of the satellite positioning techniques, civil users have always been trying to find a way to have more accurate and precise coordinates of their position. Differential concepts, from early days of GPS, have been considered. Applying the RTCM format, made the transmission of corrections possible from reference stations to the users. At first stage the corrections were casted to the users from one single station, which is called single RTK (Real Time Kinematic). This method is limited in some ways; degrading by increasing distance from CORS (Continuously Operating Reference Station), needed same signals at reference and rover and remaining the reference station errors. For compensating these shortages, the Network RTK concept appeared. In NRTK the corrections are produced using a network (at least three) of reference stations. The concept of Precise Point Positioning (PPP) is currently associated with global networks. Precise orbit and clock solutions are used to enable absolute positioning of a single receiver. However, it is restricted in ambiguity resolution, in convergence time and in accuracy. Precise point positioning based on RTK networks (PPP-RTK) overcomes these limitations and gives centimeter-accuracy in a few seconds.
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Schön
    Team: Ali Karimidoona, M. Sc.
    Year: 2018
    Funding: German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
  • Collaborative Navigation for Smart Cities (GRK 2159)
    Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) is the only navigation sensor that provides absolute positioning. However, urban areas form the most challenging environment for GNSS to achieve a reliable position. Because of the reduced satellite visibility and disturbed signal propagation like diffraction and multipath, the resulting position has a reduced accuracy and availability. The overall research objective of this project is to reduce these shortcomings through collaboration. Therefore, similarity of multipath at different locations within streets will be studied.
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Schön
    Team: Anat Schaper, Jingyao Su, Dennis Kulemann
    Year: 2019
    Funding: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Graduiertenkolleg GRK 2159
  • QGyro: Quantum Optics Inertial Sensor Research
    The objective of this research programme is to develop and test high-precision quantum inertial sensors that support conventional inertial navigation sensors in order to expand these sensors to up to 6 degrees of freedom and use them for autonomous navigation in various further development stages.
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Schön
    Team: M.Sc. Benjamin Tennstedt, Dr.-Ing. Tobias Kersten
    Year: 2019
    Funding: Federal Minitry of Economics and Climate Affairs (BMWK / DLR), grant number: 50RK1957
    Duration: 2019 - 2022
  • FIRST: Fingerprinting, Integrity Monitoring and Receiver Signal Processing Using Miniature Atomic Clock Technology
    In order to improve the performance of the determination of position, velocity and time by means of GNSS measurements, nowadays Chip Scale Atomic Clocks (CSACs) are frequently used, which provide a highly stable frequency signal to the GNSS receiver. However, until now, the improvement of the navigation solution has only been algorithmic. In this project, the influence of the receiver clock on the quality of signal processing in a software receiver will be investigated by adapting the internal processing steps to the high frequency stability of the CSAC signal. In addition, the feasibility of fingerprinting with highly stable atomic clocks under different dynamic conditions will be investigated and additional integrity measures for GNSS-based time transfer will be developed.
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Schön
    Team: Qianwen Lin, M. Sc.
    Year: 2020
    Funding: Bundesministerium of Economy and Energy (BMWi), grant number: 50NA2101
  • Correction of GNSS multipath effects for reliable autonomous localisation of highly automated vehicles in metropolitan areas (KOMET)
    The code range (code measurement) used in automotive applications often cannot provide the required resolution of the location due to the high measurement noise. The complex GNSS signal propagation (signal shading, multipath effects) in urban environments makes the determination of an accurate and robust positioning solution a particularly challenging task - e.g. for positioning in narrow street canyons. The research project aims to develop and implement innovative correction methods to reduce multipath effects in order to improve carrier phase-based GNSS positioning.
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Schön, Dr.-Ing. Tobias Kersten
    Team: Dr.-Ing. Tobias Kersten, M.Sc. Fabian Ruwisch
    Year: 2020
    Funding: BMWi / TÜV Rheinland Consulting GmbH
    © Ch. Skupin (Bosch)
  • Bounding and propagating observation uncertainty with interval mathematic (GRK 2159)
    Intervals (Jaulin et al 2001) can be seen as a natural way to bound observation uncertainty in navigation systems such as GPS, IMU or optical sensors like LIDAR, since they are in principle free of any assumption about probability distributions and can thus describe adequately remaining systematic effects (Schön 2016, Schön and Kutterer 2006). In this project, we intent to experimentally investigate in more details the actual size of observation intervals.
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Schön
    Team: Jingyao Su, M.Sc.
    Year: 2020
    Funding: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Graduiertenkolleg GRK 2159
  • Interferometric Fibre Links (CRC 1464, A05)
    The overarching goal, to establish chronometric levelling as a routine tool for geodesy, requires research and developments for high precision frequency transfer in the areas of Interferometric Fibre Links (IFLs) and Global Naviation Satellite System - Frequency Transfer (GNSS-FT). The development of fieldable IFLs equipment, ultraprecise GNSS-FT and their use for chronometric levelling, are new areas of research and development, which will open up many applications of geodetic interest. We aim to realise an island-mainland chronometric levelling campaign using IFL and GNSS-FT, and the transportable optical clocks developed in A04.
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Schön, Dr. Jochen Kronjäger
    Team: Ahmed Elmaghraby, Dr. Thomas Krawinkel, Dr. Alexander Kuhl, Shambo Mukherjee
    Year: 2021
    Funding: DFG
  • Gewinn eines grundlegenden Verständnisses der Mehrwege - Antennen - Empfänger - Interaktionen zur Standardisierung der Kalibrierung von Codephasenvariationen von GNSS-Empfangsantennen
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Schön, Dr.-Ing. Tobias Kersten
    Team: Yannick Breva
    Year: 2022
    Funding: DFG, Project number: 470510446
  • 5GAPS: 5G Access to Public Spaces
    In this research project, the positioning capabilities of the latest mobile communication standard 5G NR are investigated. Due to the increasing demand for communication and the widespread installation of 5G NR networks, terrestrial signal sources can provide an alternative or complement to GNSS signals when GNSS signals are unavailable or a limited by the environment.
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing Steffen Schön
    Team: Kai-Niklas Baasch, M.Sc.
    Year: 2022
    Funding: Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMDV), grant number: 45FG121_F
  • Development of a compact experimental platform of a gyro-stabilized quantum navigation sensor (QGyroPlus)
    The aim of the project is to develop a unique six-axis quantum inertial navigation sensor that enables drift-free and high-precision navigation for the first time. This pioneering technology will be tested as a compact experimental platform during the course of the project and could open the door to completely new areas of application in autonomous navigation.
    Led by: Prof. Dr. Steffen Schön
    Team: Dr. Benjamin Tennstedt, Nicolai B. Weddig, M.Sc., Dr.-Ing. Tobias Kersten
    Year: 2023
    Funding: Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Affairs (BMWK / DLR), grant number: 50NA2106
  • Grant from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the state of Lower Saxony
    In this project, a DAB-to-GNSS receiving module is developed that can receive and process GNSS corrections via DAB technology. It will be tested in comparison to mobile communications. The evaluation includes quantitative and qualitative investigation of the data stream and practical tests of the module in GNSS applications. The project is a cooperation with RFmondial GmbH.
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Schön
    Team: Dr.-Ing. Thomas Krawinkel
    Year: 2023
    Funding: Grant from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the state of Lower Saxony in the funding scheme "Innovationsförderprogramm für Forschung und Entwicklung"
  • Navigation with Quantum Sensors in Space (SpaceQNav)
    The project is focused on research on innovative quantum inertial sensor technology to improve space navigation. The objective is to significantly increase navigation performance by revolutionizing precision and long-term stability for missions from Earth orbit to the lunar surface. By analysing design requirements and evaluation strategies, the full potential of this technology will be exploited.
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Schön
    Team: Dr. Alireza HosseiniArani, Arpetha C. Sreekantaiah, M. Sc.
    Year: 2023
    Funding: Federal Ministry of Economy and Climate Affairs (BMWK/DLR), grant number: 50NA2310A
  • Modelling Quantum Sensors in a Realistic Navigation System Context – SimulaQrUm
    Positioning, navigation and timing are crucial for modern systems in transportation, agriculture and aerospace, but conventional GNSS signals often reach their limits, for example in cities or underwater. This project, together with partners such as the Institute of Quantum Optics (IQO) and Airbus Defense and Space, is developing a new simulation tool to make navigation solutions more reliable and stable by combining quantum sensors and inertial sensors.
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Schön
    Team: Dr. Benjamin Tennstedt, Nicolai B. Weddig, M.Sc.
    Year: 2024
    Funding: European Space Agency (ESA), Förderkennzeichen: NAVISP-EL1-089
    © IQO
  • Accurate prediction of GNSS antenna performance in automotive scenarios - Accurauto
    The German federal state authorities operate GNSS correction data services for precise localisation using satellite navigation systems (GNSS). However, this data is seldom used for vehicle localisation. However, the reason for this is that large errors are caused by the vehicle's receiving antennas. Low-cost vehicle antennas have been measured to have errors of up to several metres, and strong correlations with vehicle type and installation location have been demonstrated. This leads to unresolved challenges in the calibration of GNSS receiving antennas for vehicles.
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Schön
    Team: Johannes Kröger, M.Sc.
    Year: 2024
    Funding: Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV), grant number: 19F1189B
  • Deformation Analysis Based on Terrestrial Laser Scanner Measurements (TLS-Defo, FOR 5455, Project 5)
    Our research aims to enhance the Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) uncertainty budget by developing strategies for deterministic observation intervals and transforming error bands into point uncertainties. We are also introducing distribution-free surface uncertainty measures to improve the precision and reliability of TLS data.
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Schön
    Team: Reza Naeimaei, M. Sc.
    Year: 2024
    Funding: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Forschergruppe (FOR) 5455

Lunar Laser Ranging (LLR)

  • Lunar Laser Ranging: Konsistente Modellierung für geodätische und wissenschaftliche Anwendungen
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jürgen Müller
    Team: Dr.-Ing. Liliane Biskupek
    Year: 2006
    Funding: DFG
  • Barycentric Ephemeris
    Barycentric Ephemeris
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Jürgen Müller
    Team: Dr.-Ing. habil. Enrico Mai
    Year: 2012
    Funding: DFG FOR1503 Reference Systems
  • Lunar Reference Systems
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Jürgen Müller
    Team: Dr.-Ing Franz Hofmann
    Year: 2014
    Funding: DFG - FOR 1503
    Duration: 2014-2019
  • LLR contribution to reference frames and Earth orientation parameters
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jürgen Müller
    Team: Dr.-Ing. Liliane Biskupek
    Year: 2019
    Funding: Germany’s Excellence Strategy – EXC-2123 QuantumFrontiers (DFG), DLR-SI
    Duration: 2019 - 2025
  • Relativistic investigations with LLR data
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Jürgen Müller
    Team: Dr.-Ing. Liliane Biskupek
    Year: 2019
    Funding: Germany’s Excellence Strategy – EXC-2123 QuantumFrontiers (DFG)
    Duration: 2019 - 2025
  • Improved modelling of the Earth-Moon system
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jürgen Müller
    Team: Vishwa Vijay Singh, M.Sc.
    Year: 2020
    Funding: DLR-SI
    Duration: 2019 - 2022
  • Differential Lunar Laser Ranging
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Jürgen Müller
    Team: M. Sc. Mingyue Zhang
    Year: 2021
    Funding: Germany’s Excellence Strategy – EXC-2123 QuantumFrontiers (DFG), DLR-SI
    Duration: 2021 - 2022

Space Sensor Technologies

  • In-Orbit System Analysis of the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) Mission
    Precise determination and control of satellite attitude plays a key role for satellite geodesy in general, and for Satellite-to-Satellite Tracking in particular. The project provided the first in-depth characterization of GRACE pointing biases and pointing variations. Investigations addressed star camera inter-boresight angle variations, the weighted camera sensor head combination, as well as error propagation to inter-satellite ranging and accelerometer observations. Results led to significant improvements in the operational GRACE data processing.
    Led by: Prof. Jakob Flury
    Team: Tamara Bandikova
    Year: 2009
    Funding: Exzellenzcluster QUEST
    Duration: 2009-2015
    © IfE / Bandikova
  • Highly physical penumbra solar radiation pressure modeling with atmospheric effects
    During penumbra transitions of an Earth orbiter, the solar radiation hitting the satellite is strongly influenced by refraction and absorption of light rays grazing the Earth’s atmosphere. The project implemented solar radiation pressure modeling including these effects. Model results were tested by comparing with measurements of the accelerometers of the GRACE low Earth orbiters.
    Led by: Prof. Jakob Flury, Tamara Bandikova
    Team: Robbie Robertson (Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA)
    Year: 2010
    Funding: RISE/QUEST
    Duration: 2010
  • Disentangling gravitational signals and errors in global gravity field parameter estimation from satellite observations (SFB 1128, C01)
    Range-rate residuals from the estimation of global gravity field parameters from GRACE satellite-to-satellite tracking reveal a range of systematic effects that limit the accuracy of the estimated parameters. The project investigated the characteristics of time series of range-rate residuals. It addressed how drops in the K-band ranging signal-to-noise ratio at specific inter-satellite Doppler frequencies propagate to anomalies in range-rate residuals, as well as anomalies during penumbra transitions. A part of the project at TU Graz, in the group of Prof. Mayer-Gürr, studied options to use wavelet parameters in the SST gravity field parameter estimation.
    Led by: Prof. Jakob Flury
    Team: M.Sc. Saniya Behzadpour
    Year: 2014
    Funding: DFG
    Duration: 2014-2018
  • Swarm ESL/DISC: Support to accelerometer data analysis and processing
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jakob Flury
    Team: Dr.-Ing. Sergiy Svitlov, Dr.-Ing. Akbar Shabanloui
    Year: 2016
    Funding: ESA (DTU Space)
    Duration: 2016-2020
  • Interactions of Low-orbiting Satellites with the Surrounding Ionosphere and Thermosphere Part II (INSIGHT II)
    At our Institute, we provide reduced and calibrated Swarm accelerometer data for the ESA Swarm data processing chain that are the basis for the determination of thermospheric density. This includes the accelerometer calibration by precise orbit determination of Swarm satellites.
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jakob Flury
    Team: Dr.-Ing. Akbar Shabanloui
    Year: 2018
    Funding: DFG
    Duration: 2018-2021

CRC 1128 (geo-Q)

  • Kinematic GNSS positioning of Low Earth Orbiters (CRC 1128, B03)
    Strengthening the accuracy of kinematic orbits of Low Earth Orbiters through an adopted Precise Point Positioning (PPP) enhanced by GNSS Receiver Clock Modeling and the concept of a Virtual Receiver is the overall objective of this project.
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Schön
    Team: M.Sc. Christoph Wallat
    Year: 2014
    Funding: DFG
  • Relativistic effects in satellite constellations (CRC 1128, C02)
    Led by: Dr.-Ing. habil. Enrico Mai, Dr. Eva Hackmann (ZARM), Prof. Dr. Claus Lämmerzahl (ZARM)
    Team: Dr.-Ing. Liliane Biskupek, PD Dr. Volker Perlick (ZARM), Dennis Philipp (ZARM)
    Year: 2014
    Funding: DFG
  • Disentangling gravitational signals and errors in global gravity field parameter estimation from satellite observations (SFB 1128, C01)
    Range-rate residuals from the estimation of global gravity field parameters from GRACE satellite-to-satellite tracking reveal a range of systematic effects that limit the accuracy of the estimated parameters. The project investigated the characteristics of time series of range-rate residuals. It addressed how drops in the K-band ranging signal-to-noise ratio at specific inter-satellite Doppler frequencies propagate to anomalies in range-rate residuals, as well as anomalies during penumbra transitions. A part of the project at TU Graz, in the group of Prof. Mayer-Gürr, studied options to use wavelet parameters in the SST gravity field parameter estimation.
    Led by: Prof. Jakob Flury
    Team: M.Sc. Saniya Behzadpour
    Year: 2014
    Funding: DFG
    Duration: 2014-2018
  • Clock network modeling (CRC 1128, C03)
    Led by: Prof. Dr. Jürgen Müller, Prof. Dr. Claus Lämmerzahl
    Team: Dr.-Ing. Hu Wu
    Year: 2014
    Funding: DFG
  • Fusion of ranging, accelerometry, and attitude sensing in the multi-sensor system for laserinterferometric inter-satellite ranging (CRC 1128, B02)
    The quality of gravity field results obtained from GRACE and GRACE Follow-On inter-satellite ranging does not only depend on the ranging measurement accuracy. Equally important is the quality of the integration in the multi-sensor system consisting of inter-satellite ranging, GNSS orbit tracking, accelerometry, and attitude sensing, and the performance of this system as a whole. The system performance is influenced, e.g., by star camera attitude performance, by the characteristics of satellite pointing jitter coupling, by inaccurate knowledge and instabilities of phase centers and alignments, and by accelerometer signal disturbances.
    Led by: Prof. Jakob Flury, Dr. Gerhard Heinzel
    Team: M.Sc. Santoshkumar Burla, Henry Wegener, Dr. Akbar Shabanloui
    Year: 2014
    Funding: DFG
    Duration: 2014-2018
  • High performance satellite formation flight simulator (CRC 1128, B05)
    Led by: Dr. Meike List (ZARM), Dr.-Ing. Benny Rievers (ZARM)
    Team: Guy Apelbaum, Dr. Takahiro Kato , Florian Wöske, Dr. Sergiy Svitlov, Dr. rer. nat. Ertan Göklü, Stefanie Bremer
    Year: 2014
    Funding: DFG
  • Regional gravity field modeling & relativistic geodesy (CRC 1128, C04)
    Led by: Dr.-Ing. Heiner Denker
    Team: Dr.-Ing. Miao Lin
    Year: 2014
    Funding: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)
    Duration: 01.07.2014 – 30.06.2018
  • Modeling of mass variations down to small scales (CRC 1128, C05)
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Jürgen Müller
    Team: Dr.-Ing. Balaji Devaraju, M.Sc. Lars Leßmann
    Year: 2014
    Funding: DFG
  • System studies for an optical gradiometer mission (CRC 1128, B07)
    Led by: Dr. Gerhard Heinzel, Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Jürgen Müller
    Team: Dr. Karim Douch, Brigitte Kaune, Dr. Akbar Shabanloui
    Year: 2014
    Funding: DFG
  • Transportable quantum gravimeter (CRC 1128, A01)
    Led by: Prof. Dr. Jürgen Müller, Prof. Dr. Ernst M. Rasel
    Team: Maral Sahelgozin
    Year: 2014
    Funding: DFG
  • Data analysis challenge for the GRACE-FO community (CRC 1128, B04)
    Led by: Dr.-Ing. Majid Naeimi, Dr. Martin Hewitson, Dr. Meike List
    Team: Dr. Neda Darbeheshti
    Year: 2015
    Funding: DFG
  • Gravimetric reference network for a 10m atom interferometer
    The Very Long Baseline Atom Interferometer (VLBAI) at the Hannover Institute for Technology (HITec) is a physics instrument in which experiments on the interferometry of atoms can be carried out over a free-fall distance of about 10m. These experiments are mainly used for fundamental physics, but gravimetric measurements can also be performed. Due to the large fall distance and the resulting long fall time of the atoms, a future accuracy in the range of 1 nm/s² is anticipated. With classical transportable absolute gravimeters, however, some tens nm/s² are achieved. The VLBAI could therefore be a reference for classical gravimeters. For these experiments and for the evaluation of the error budget, however, knowledge of the local gravitational field is necessary. This will be determined in parallel to the installation of the large-scale instrument and further on by gravimetric measurements and forward modelling.
    Led by: Dr.-Ing. Manuel Schilling, Dr.-Ing. Ludger Timmen
    Team: Dr.-Ing. Manuel Schilling, Dr.-Ing. Ludger Timmen
    Year: 2017
    Funding: IfE, SFB-1128, EXC-2123 "QuantumFrontiers"
    Duration: 2017-2025
    © M. Schilling
  • Transportable optical clock for relativistic geodesy (CRC 1128/2, A03)
    Led by: Priv.-Doz. Dr. Christian Lisdat, Prof. Dr. Piet O. Schmidt, Dr.-Ing. Heiner Denker
    Team: Coworker of the Physikalisch-Technischen Bundesanstalt (PTB)
    Year: 2018
    Funding: German Research Foundation (DFG)
    Duration: 01.07.2018 – 30.06.2019

QUEST

  • In-Orbit System Analysis of the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) Mission
    Precise determination and control of satellite attitude plays a key role for satellite geodesy in general, and for Satellite-to-Satellite Tracking in particular. The project provided the first in-depth characterization of GRACE pointing biases and pointing variations. Investigations addressed star camera inter-boresight angle variations, the weighted camera sensor head combination, as well as error propagation to inter-satellite ranging and accelerometer observations. Results led to significant improvements in the operational GRACE data processing.
    Led by: Prof. Jakob Flury
    Team: Tamara Bandikova
    Year: 2009
    Funding: Exzellenzcluster QUEST
    Duration: 2009-2015
    © IfE / Bandikova
  • Highly physical penumbra solar radiation pressure modeling with atmospheric effects
    During penumbra transitions of an Earth orbiter, the solar radiation hitting the satellite is strongly influenced by refraction and absorption of light rays grazing the Earth’s atmosphere. The project implemented solar radiation pressure modeling including these effects. Model results were tested by comparing with measurements of the accelerometers of the GRACE low Earth orbiters.
    Led by: Prof. Jakob Flury, Tamara Bandikova
    Team: Robbie Robertson (Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA)
    Year: 2010
    Funding: RISE/QUEST
    Duration: 2010
  • Satellite Navigation using high precise Oscillators
    Examination of high precise Oscillators in the application area of Satellite Navigation
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Schön
    Team: Dipl.-Ing. Ulrich Weinbach
    Year: 2011
    Funding: QUEST
  • Potential Field Determination and high precise Oscillators
    Determination of the Earth's Gravity Field using high precise Oscillators
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Jürgen Müller
    Team: Dr.-Ing. habil. Enrico Mai
    Year: 2011
    Funding: QUEST (Quantum Engineering and Space Time Research)
  • Earth System Mass Transport Mission (e.motion)
    Led by: Jakob Flury
    Year: 2013

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