S. Abend and E. Rasel/Leibniz Univ. of Hannover

Gravity in hand. A compact gravimeter uses an atom chip to generate a dense cloud of ultracold atoms. The atoms are released and fall down through a series of laser pulses, which produce two interfering pathways. Imaging the interference provides a precise measurement of the gravitational acceleration. (The portable device imagined in this drawing would require an additional, shoebox-sized container of support equipment, such as a power supply and laser systems.) See:  Focus: Measuring Gravity with an Atom Chip