Compact cold atom gravimeter for field applications

We present a cold atom gravimeter dedicated to field applications. Despite the compactness of our gravimeter, we obtain performances (sensitivity 42 mu Gal/Hz(1/2), accuracy 25 mu Gal) close to the best gravimeters. We report gravity measurements in an elevator which led us to the determination of the Earth's gravity gradient with a precision of 4E. These measurements in a non-laboratory environment demonstrate that our technology of gravimeter is enough compact, reliable, and robust for field applications. Finally, we report gravity measurements in a moving elevator which open the way to absolute gravity measurements in an aircraft or a boat. (C) 2013 AIP Publishing LLC