Drift-free continuous gravity measurement and application analysis of a high-precision atom gravimeter
Phys. Rev. Applied 24, 014045 – Published 24 July, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/26vs-4t7p
Abstract
The atom gravimeter, based on the principle of matter-wave interferometry, represents a new generation of high-precision gravity measurement instruments with significant application potential. We have successfully developed a high-precision atom gravimeter named USTC-AG12. To comprehensively evaluate its environmental adaptability and performance in long-term measurements, while effectively suppressing vibration noise and increasing system stability, we transported the device to a mountain 800 km away and conducted continuous gravity measurements using advanced vibration postcompensation techniques. The experimental results demonstrate that the atom gravimeter achieved stable operation for more than 150 days, with a measurement sensitivity of and stability of at 1000 s. Moreover, comparative observations with a superconducting gravimeter showed excellent consistency between the two instruments: the long-term measurements exhibited almost no drift. Additionally, we used the continuous observation data from the cold-atom gravimeter to thoroughly validate the reliability of gravity data in seismic analysis and research. Through comparative analysis with seismometer recordings, the two instruments demonstrated high consistency in extracting seismic surface wave dispersion velocities, confirming the application value of atom gravimeters in the field of seismic research.
