Field Absolute Ballistic Laser Gravimeter

This paper describes an absolute ballistic laser gravimeter of a new generation developed at the Institute of Automation and Electrometry, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The device is intended for use under field conditions and has small dimensions and weight. The light source in the gravimeter interferometer is an optical standard with a wavelength lambda = 532 nm consisting of a traveling- wave Nd : YAG laser with intracavity frequency doubling and with a stabilization system for the saturated absorption resonances in molecular iodine. The instrumental standard error in measuring the absolute gravity by the gravimeter does not exceed +/- 5 center dot 10(-8) m/s2 (or 5 mu Gal).