A Six-Quadrupole Diamagnetic Suspension Architecture for Ultra-Sensitive Space Accelerometry

This paper proposes a novel inertial sensor based on a solid diamagnetic cubic test mass passively suspended by a symmetric configuration of six magnetic quadrupoles. Designed specifically for microgravity environments, this system eliminates the mechanical noise and hysteresis inherent in elastic suspensions, as well as the complexity associated with electrostatic suspension systems. We provide an analysis of the magnetic intrinsic noise floor imposed by eddy current damping, alongside ground-based preliminary experimental results demonstrating potential sensitivities in the order of the 10−10m/s2/Hz regime.