Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Determination of the Gravitational Potential Difference in the Earth’s Field Based on the Measurement of the Gravitational Delay of Light Waves in an Optical Fiber

  • OPTICAL AND PHYSICAL MEASUREMENTS
  • Published:
Measurement Techniques Aims and scope

The possibility of determining the difference in gravitational potentials and orthometric heights in the Earth’s field based on measurements of the phase difference of laser radiation in an optical fiber is proposed and investigated in this study. Such a phase difference is attributed to the effect of the gravitational delay of light waves. A block diagram of a measuring complex designed to measure the phase difference of light waves caused by this effect is proposed. The measurements use two coherent light waves from a single laser, each propagating along a separate fiber-optic communication line. The composition of each fiber-optic communication line includes the same coils of a long optical fiber, spaced apart in height. The analysis of the factors influencing the phase relations of waves propagating along two communication lines of the measuring complex is performed. The phase effects of the delay, caused by the influence of the true gravitational field of the Earth, and the influence of the fields of inertial forces and gyroscopic effects due to the Earth’s rotation are determined. Methods for suppressing interfering effects are proposed. The achievable errors in measuring the differences in gravitational potentials and corresponding orthometric heights are estimated. With a fiber length in coils of 100 km and a height difference of 100 m, the errors are 0.2 m2/s2 and 2 cm, respectively. The measuring complex under study is called a laser gravipotentiometer. It is an optical analog of the well-known radio-frequency quantum-level unit, but it does not require ultrastable frequency and time standards. The research results of the proposed measuring complex are relevant for the development and improvement of measuring instruments for the parameters of the Earth’s gravitational field and a means of the high-precision synchronization of time scales of remote standards.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1.
Fig. 2.

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. Optical phase shifters. URL: https://sphotonics.ru/catalog/photonic-time-delays (reference date: 05/25/2022)

References

  1. V. F. Fateev, A. I. Zharikov, V. P. Sysoev, E. A. Rybakov, and F. R. Smirnov, On measuring the difference in the Earth's gravitational potentials using transportable quantum clocks, Dokl. Akad. Nauk, 472, No. 2, 206–209 (2017), https://doi.org/10.7868/S0869565217020189.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. V. F. Fateev, F. R. Smirnov, and S. S. Donchenko, Measuring the effect of gravitational time dilation with a duplex ground-based quantum level unit, Izmerit. Tekh., No. 2, 22–27 (2022), https://doi.org/10.32446/0368-1025it.2022-2-22-27.

  3. J. Muller, D. Dirkx, S. M. Kopeikin, G. Lion, I. Panet, G. Petit, and P. N. A. M. Visser, Space Sci. Rev., 214, No. 5 (2018), https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-017-0431-z.

  4. L. D. Landau and E. M. Lifshits, Field Theory, Nauka, Moscow (1967).

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  5. V. A. Fok, Theory of Space, Time and Gravity, Fizmatgiz, Moscow (1961).

  6. I. I. Shapiro, Fourth test of general relativity, Phys. Rev. Lett., 13, 789–790 (1964).

    Article  ADS  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  7. S. G. Turyshev, Experimental verifications of the general theory of relativity: Recent progress and future directions of research, Usp. Fiz. Nauk, 179, No. 1, 3–34 (2009), https://doi.org/10.3367/UFNr.0179.200901a.0003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. I. I. Shapiro, R. D. Reasenberg, P. E. MacNeil, R. B. Goldstein, J. P. Brenkle, D. L. Cain, T. Komarek, A. I. Zygielbaum, W. F. Cuddihy, and W. H. Michael Jr., J. Geophys. Res., 82, No. 28, 4329–4334 (1977), 10.1029/ JS082i028p04329.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  9. I. I. Shapiro, Ch. C. Counselman, III, and R. W. King, Phys. Rev. Lett., 36, No. 11, 555–558 (1976), https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.36.555.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  10. J. G. Williams, S. G. Turyshev, and D. H. Boggs, Int. J. Mod. Phys. D, 18, No. 07, 1129–1175 (2009), https://doi.org/10.1142/S021827180901500X.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  11. B. Bertotti, L. Iess, and P. Tortora, Nature, 425, 374–376 (2003), https://doi.org/10.1038/nature01997.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  12. V. F. Fateev, Relativistic Metrology of Near-Earth Space-Time, Monograph, FGUP VNIIFTRI, Mendeleevo (2017).

  13. V. F. Fateev, Refractive properties of gravitational sphere of the Earth in the rotating coordinate systems, Elektromagnit. Volny Elektron. Sist., 18, No. 5, 73–82 (2013).

    Google Scholar 

  14. O. V. Kolmogorov, D. V. Prokhorov, and S. S. Donchenko, Results of development and research of systems for comparison and synchronization of time scales of spatially remote standards using fiber-optic communication lines, Foton-Ekspress, No. 6(158), 83–84 (2019), https://doi.org/10.24411/2308-6920-2019-16038.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Russian Metrological Institute of Technical Physics and Radio Engineering, Mendeleevo, Moscow region, Russia

    V. F. Fateev & O. V. Kolmogorov

Authors
  1. V. F. Fateev
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. O. V. Kolmogorov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to V. F. Fateev.

Additional information

Translated from Izmeritel'naya Tekhnika, No. 9, pp. 33–39, September, 2022.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Fateev, V.F., Kolmogorov, O.V. Determination of the Gravitational Potential Difference in the Earth’s Field Based on the Measurement of the Gravitational Delay of Light Waves in an Optical Fiber. Meas Tech 65, 652–659 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11018-023-02135-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11018-023-02135-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation