Relativistic formulation for dual one-way Doppler cancellation scheme observables for gravitational redshift tests
- 1Sun Yat-sen University (Zhuhai Campus)
- 2Chinese Academy of Sciences
- 3Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Abstract
Gravitational redshift is a fundamental prediction of general relativity and a sensitive probe of possible deviations from it. Motivated by recent progress in optical clocks and satellite–ground frequency transfer, we study a dual one-way optical Doppler-cancellation observable for space-based gravitational-redshift tests. The corresponding observable is constructed by combining oppositely directed one-way frequency observables, namely, an uplink and a downlink whose measurements are recorded at the receiving terminals and combined in post-processing. We derive the corresponding relativistic observable up to order c−3 c - 3 , as required for future 10−18 10 - 18 -level clock comparisons. The resulting combination suppresses the first-order Doppler contribution to second order while retaining the gravitational-redshift signal. We analyze the dominant residual effects, including higher-order Doppler terms, atmospheric delay, Shapiro delay, tidal effects, and clock synchronization. The formalism is applied to representative satellite–ground configurations, including an Atomic Clock Ensemble in Space/China Space Station (ACES/CSS)-like low-Earth-orbit configuration and a geostationary Earth-orbit satellite. The results show that the dual one-way optical DCS configuration provides a useful relativistic framework and error-modeling reference for future 10−18 10 - 18 -level space-based gravitational-redshift tests, while highlighting the need for stringent clock synchronization.
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BibTeX
@article{qin2026relativistic,
title = {{Relativistic formulation for dual one-way Doppler cancellation scheme observables for gravitational redshift tests}},
author = {Cheng-Gang Qin and Tong Liu and Qin Li and Yang Li and Qi-Long Gong and Zhi-Yu Ma and Yu-Jie Tan and Cheng-Gang Shao},
journal = {The European Physical Journal C},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1140/epjc/s10052-026-16367-8},
url = {https://link.springer.com/article/10.1140/epjc/s10052-026-16367-8},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Relativistic formulation for dual one-way Doppler cancellation scheme observables for gravitational redshift tests
AU - Cheng-Gang Qin
AU - Tong Liu
AU - Qin Li
AU - Yang Li
AU - Qi-Long Gong
AU - Zhi-Yu Ma
AU - Yu-Jie Tan
AU - Cheng-Gang Shao
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/26
JO - The European Physical Journal C
DO - 10.1140/epjc/s10052-026-16367-8
UR - https://link.springer.com/article/10.1140/epjc/s10052-026-16367-8
AB - Gravitational redshift is a fundamental prediction of general relativity and a sensitive probe of possible deviations from it. Motivated by recent progress in optical clocks and satellite–ground frequency transfer, we study a dual one-way optical Doppler-cancellation observable for space-based gravitational-redshift tests. The corresponding observable is constructed by combining oppositely directed one-way frequency observables, namely, an uplink and a downlink whose measurements are recorded at the receiving terminals and combined in post-processing. We derive the corresponding relativistic observable up to order c^−3 c - 3 , as required for future 10^−18 10 - 18 -level clock comparisons. The resulting combination suppresses the first-order Doppler contribution to second order while retaining the gravitational-redshift signal. We analyze the dominant residual effects, including higher-order Doppler terms, atmospheric delay, Shapiro delay, tidal effects, and clock synchronization. The formalism is applied to representative satellite–ground configurations, including an Atomic Clock Ensemble in Space/China Space Station (ACES/CSS)-like low-Earth-orbit configuration and a geostationary Earth-orbit satellite. The results show that the dual one-way optical DCS configuration provides a useful relativistic framework and error-modeling reference for future 10^−18 10 - 18 -level space-based gravitational-redshift tests, while highlighting the need for stringent clock synchronization.
SN - 1434-6044
SN - 1434-6052
ER -