Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 8, 2026

Force Spectroscopy of Single Protein Molecules Using an Atomic Force Microscope
Published on: February 28, 2019
Note: Effect of the parasitic forced vibration in an atom gravimeter
Le-Le Chen1, Qin Luo1, Heng Zhang1
1MOE Key Laboratory of Fundamental Physical Quantities Measurements, Hubei Key Laboratory of Gravitation and Quantum Physics, School of Physics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, People's Republic of China.
Abstract:
The vibration isolator usually plays an important role in atom interferometry gravimeters to improve their sensitivity. We show that the parasitic forced vibration of the Raman mirror, which is induced by external forces acting on the vibration isolator, can cause a bias in atom gravimeters. The mechanism of how this effect induces an additional phase shift in our interferometer is analyzed. Moreover, modulation experiments are performed to measure the dominant part of this effect, which is caused by the magnetic force between the passive vibration isolator and the coil of the magneto-optic trap. In our current apparatus, this forced vibration contributes a systematic error of -2.3(2) × 10-7 m/s2 when the vibration isolator works in the passive isolation mode. Even suppressed with an active vibration isolator, this effect can still contribute -6(1) × 10-8 m/s2; thus, it should be carefully considered in precision atom gravimeters.
Related Concept Videos
Atomic Force Microscopy
The AFM Probe
The probe is regarded as the heart of any AFM setup and comprises the...
Atomic Orbitals
Intermolecular Forces
The Energies of Atomic Orbitals
Intermolecular vs Intramolecular Forces
Atomic Structure

