Field-Deployable Hybrid Gravimetry: Projecting Absolute Accuracy Across a Remote 24km$^2$ Survey via Daily Quantum Calibration

Read full text
Authors: Nathan Shettell, Kai Sheng Lee, Fong En Oon, Elizaveta Nikitichna Maksimova, Hong Hui Chen, Rainer Dumke
Cited by: 0

Abstract

Absolute gravimeters deliver drift-free, high-precision measurements but are typically bulky and difficult to deploy, whereas relative gravimeters are lightweight and mobile but intrinsically limited by time-dependent drift. We demonstrate a hybrid quantum-enabled gravimetry approach in which an on-site atomic gravimeter provides routine, $μ$Gal-level calibration of two mobile spring gravimeters during a field survey spanning 24 km$^2$ of dense tropical terrain. The atomic reference enables high-precision, asynchronous cross-comparison of relative measurements acquired over seven days, effectively suppressing instrumental drift to a level required for demanding geophysical applications. This deployment captures regional gravity gradients with high fidelity under challenging environmental conditions, illustrating how field-operable quantum sensors can extend quantum-grade gravimetry beyond laboratory settings and serve as scalable calibration backbones for large-area, high-precision geophysical surveys in remote or logistically constrained environments.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Geophysics and Gravity Measurements Geophysics and Sensor Technology Pulsars and Gravitational Waves Research

Publication details

Journal / source
arXiv (Cornell University)
Publication date
11 February 2026
Language
EN
Document type
Preprint