The Walferdange Underground Laboratory for Geodynamics in Luxembourg

English Abstract:

The underground laboratory for geodynamics in Walferdange has been established more than 40 years ago. At the origin, it was dedicated to the development and test of instruments mainly used in tidal research and volcanology (gravimeters, titltmeters, strainmeters, water tubes, etc. ...). Since 2000, the activities have been concentrated on gravity. The laboratory was equipped with a superconducting gravimeter, an absolute gravimeter FG5X, two spring relative gravimeters Scintrex and two portable tidal spring gravimeters gPhone. The laboratory already hosted 3 international comparisons of absolute gravimeters. In 2013, for the first time, the international comparison of absolute gravimeters, traditionally organized by the BIPM in Sèvres, took place in Walferdange. Results from the recent developments will be presented: comparisons, calibrations as well as noise characterization of gravimeters. Finally, applications and new instrumental developments will be presented.