Gravity Gradiometer Data Reduction

Citation

Glaser, Robert James (1973) Gravity Gradiometer Data Reduction. Engineer's thesis, California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/5VY1-7Z44. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:08272010-080449842

Abstract

Two existing gravity gradiometers are discussed and a single signal equation is developed for both instruments. Equations are derived for calculating the gradiometer signal from known spherical harmonic coefficients. The result is a signal equation in the same form as the harmonic expansion but with a "gradiometer" polynomial. Next, an integral curvefit procedure is developed for calculating the harmonic coefficients of the gravitational field from known gradiometer data. The procedure only requires calculation of a theoretical observation matrix, thus the orbit determination part of the algorithm is the rate determining step. This increases in cost as the fourth power of the maximum harmonic degree considered. Calculations using parts of the algorithm are discussed and procedures for dealing with error sources are described. Finally, a brief description of a complete gradiometer data reduction program is presented.

Thesis Files