Reconstruction of the Instantaneous Earth Rotation Vector with Sub-Arcsecond Resolution Using a Large Scale Ring Laser Array

André Gebauer , Monika Tercjak , Karl Ulrich Schreiber , Heiner Igel , Jan Kodet , Urs Hugentobler , Joachim Wassermann , Felix Bernauer , Chin-Jen Lin , Stefanie Donner , Sven Egdorf , Andrea Simonelli , Jon-Paul R. Wells

Abstract

Absolute rotation rate sensing with extreme sensitivity requires a combination of several large scale gyroscopes in order to obtain the full vector of rotation. We report on the construction and operation of a four-component, tetrahedral laser gyroscope array as large as a five story building and situated in a near surface, underground laboratory. It is demonstrated that reconstruction of the full Earth rotation vector can be achieved with sub-arcsecond resolution over more than six weeks.