2018/05/31 by Dirk Puetzfeld, Yuri N. Obukhov, Claus Lämmerzahl +1 · 1 citation
Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Frequency and Time Standards #Classical mechanics #Compass #Computer science #Context (archaeology) #Frame (networking) #General relativity #Geodesy #Geography #Geophysics and Sensor Technology #Gravitation #Gravitational field #Law #Physics #Pulsars and Gravitational Waves Research #Quantum mechanics #Reference frame #Relevance (law) #Telecommunications #Theoretical physics #Theory of relativity #gr-qc
paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevd.98.024032
published as Phys. Rev. D 98, 024032 (2018) · 12 pages, 6 figures
openalex publication_date 2018/07/16 · arxiv created 2018/07/25 · arxiv updated 2018/07/26 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
We show how a suitably prepared set of clocks can be used to determine all components of the gravitational field in general relativity. We call such an experimental setup a clock compass, in analogy to the usual gravitational compass. Particular attention is paid to the construction of the underlying reference frame. Conceptual differences between the clock compass and the standard gravitational compass, which is based on the measurement of the mutual accelerations between the constituents of a swarm of test bodies, are highlighted. Our results are of direct operational relevance for the setup of networks of clocks, for example in the context of relativistic geodesy.