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

TL;DR

This paper presents a hybrid quantum gravimetry system that uses an atomic gravimeter to calibrate mobile spring gravimeters in the field, enabling high-precision, drift-free measurements over large remote areas.

Contribution

It introduces a practical hybrid quantum-classical gravimetry approach for large-scale, remote geophysical surveys, demonstrating real-world deployment and calibration of mobile gravimeters.

Findings

Effective suppression of instrumental drift to μGal levels.

High-fidelity regional gravity gradient measurements in tropical terrain.

Successful field deployment of quantum sensors for geophysical applications.

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, $\mu$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.