The diffraction correction for absolute gravimeters

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Abstract
The inherent curvature of the wavefronts in the laser beams used in most absolute gravimeters introduces a systematic reduction in the measured gravity value. This error depends strongly on the diameter of the laser beam, but is typically of the order of 1–5 µGal. This paper describes the origin of this reduction, and provides a correction based on the laser beam diameter as well as a practical method to measure the beam's diameter.