The results of 10th International Comparison of Absolute Gravimeters (ICAG-2017)

The National Institute of Metrology, China, successfully organized the 10th International Comparison of Absolute Gravimeters in its Changping Campus in 2017 (ICAG-2017). The ICAG-2017 is registered as the CCM.G-K2.2017 Key Comparison (KC) and Pilot Study (PS) in the frame of CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement of the International Committee for Weights and Measures (CIPM-MRA). KC instrument belongs to an institute of National Metrology Institutes (NMIs) or its Designated Institute (DIs). PS instrument belongs to an institute that is not listed as NMI or DI. The comparison allows the determination of the degree of equivalence of national standards for free-fall acceleration measurement and ensures the consistency of the participating results with their declared uncertainties. This is the first time that such a comparison has been organized outside of the European continent and establishes a new absolute gravimeter international comparison site in China. With the participation of 13 KC gravimeters, it is also the largest comparison up to now. In parallel, a pilot study was also conducted which allowed the participation of 17 PS gravimeters including several atomic gravimeters. For the KC part of ICAG-2017, the results have already been published on Metrologia (Volume 57,07,002). This paper presents the results of the PS part of ICAG-2017 in which 15 of the 17 gravimeters are in equivalence.

Automated summary

The National Institute of Metrology, China organized the ICAG-2017, the first absolute gravimeter international comparison held outside of Europe, with the largest participation so far. The results have been published, ensuring the equivalence of national standards.