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Quantum mechanical uncertainty limitations on deep space navigation by Doppler tracking and very long baseline interferometry
Author(s) -
Can W. H.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
radio science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.371
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1944-799X
pISSN - 0048-6604
DOI - 10.1029/rs025i002p00097
Subject(s) - very long baseline interferometry , spacecraft , physics , interferometry , noise (video) , nasa deep space network , quantum limit , position (finance) , phase (matter) , doppler effect , optics , quantum , astrophysics , computer science , astronomy , quantum mechanics , artificial intelligence , finance , economics , image (mathematics)
The ultimate precision with which very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) can determine the angular position of a spacecraft is determined by the quantum mechanical limitations on the performance of the interferometer receivers and the quantum mechanical uncertainty relation Δ N ΔΦ ≥ 1. It is shown that for the navigation of a typical deep space mission using present‐day techniques, fundamental physics imposes the following limits on the precision of spacecraft navigation: (1) Minimum noise on determination of phase of spacecraft navigation tone, ΔΦ min ≈ 1.9 × 10 −5 radians per AU, (2) minimum noise on determination of phase of VLBI navigation fringes, ΔΘ min ≈ 2.6 × 10 −5 radians per AU, (3) minimum noise on determination of VLBI navigation fringe frequency, Δ f min ≈ 2.9 × 10 −9 Hz per AU, (4) minimum noise on determination of VLBI group delay, Δτ gmin ≈ 0.5 ps per AU, and (5) minimum noise on determination of spacecraft angular position, ΔΨ min ≈ 2.9 × 10 −11 radians per AU. The above limitations which are a consequence of quantum mechanical uncertainty on the determinations of the phase of a spacecraft tracking signal may be circumvented in principle by the application of squeezed quantum states.