Atomic gravimetry measures the gravitational acceleration through matter-wave interferometry. As this novel quantum system suffers neither mechanical wear nor drift, it outperforms or strongly enhances the classical devices, such as the falling-corner-cube or spring-mass systems, in gravity survey. Since the very first demonstration in laboratory over 30 years ago, atomic gravimetry has matured to a versatile tool that offers both precise and accurate absolute gravity measurement to fundamental research and metrology, such as testing the weak equivalence principle or linking the mass and weight of the test mass in Kibble balance. In the light of current rapid development of compact cold-atom gravimeters, enormous effort has been made to push atomic gravimetry out of the laboratory to fulfill the demands of geophysics and civil engineering in noisy urban environments, where the vibration noise limits the measurement sensitivity and precision.

Benefit from an improved portable active vibration isolator, the research group led by Prof. Shuai Chen from University of Science and Technology of China develops a compact cold-atom gravimeter that performs precise long-term static gravity measurement in noisy urban environments, of which the sensitivity and resolution are comparable to state-of-the-art in-laboratory devices. The research results are published in Chinese Optics Letters, Volume 18, Issue 9, 2020 (B. Chen, J. Long and H. Xie et al., A portable atomic gravimeter operating in noisy urban environments).

For nearby locations, the cold-atom gravimeter is of notably good mobility, which is easily transferable, erectable and measurable by one or two manpower. Meanwhile, it is also compact and robust enough to be fitted inside a minivan and transported over a long range. It is believed that with the development of applications in geophysics and civil engineering, atomic gravimetry would play a more and more important role in the life of human being.

Benefit from an improved portable active vibration isolator, the portable atomic gravimeter can perform precise long-term static gravity measurement in noisy urban environments, also being with excellent transportability