Gravity Gradiometry On High Tsub C Superconducting Sensors PDF Download

This is the final report of a 1-y LDRD project at LANL. Earth's gravitational field has minuscule local variations that are difficult to observe with any but the most sensitive instruments. These variations are caused by local variations in the earth's crust density such as voids or high density material. Such anomalies can be observed directly by mapping the magnitude of the gravitational field (gravimetry) or by measuring the gradient of the gravitational field (gradiometry). It is believed that gradiometry is potentially superior to gravimetry because measurement and interpretation is simpler and less susceptible to masking by other effects, e.g. accelerations. This method introduces no energy or radiation into the region of interest, can be adapted to moving platforms and the capability to take real-time data over large areas is feasible. Scope of this work was to examine feasiiblity and performance of a fieldable gradiometer using high-{Tc} materials.