The Quantum Beat

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xiv

   PDF

2. Celestial and Mechanical Clocks

   • F. G. Major

   Pages 1-21

3. Oscillations and Fourier Analysis

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   Pages 23-45

4. Oscillators

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   Pages 47-62

5. Quartz Clocks

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   Pages 63-88

6. The Language of Electrons, Atoms, and Quanta

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   Pages 89-115

7. Magnetic Resonance

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   Pages 117-140

8. Corrections to Observed Atomic Resonance

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   Pages 141-159

9. The Rubidium Clock

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   Pages 161-178

10. The Classical Cesium Standard

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    Pages 179-204

11. Atomic and Molecular Oscillators: Masers

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    Pages 205-222

12. The Hydrogen Maser

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    Pages 223-254

13. The Confinement of Ions

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    Pages 255-283

14. The NASA Mercury Ion Experiment

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    Pages 285-306

15. Optical Frequency Oscillators: Lasers

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    Pages 307-343

16. Laser Cooling of Atoms and Ions

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    Pages 345-368

17. Application of Lasers to Microwave Standards

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    Pages 369-394

18. Measurement of Optical Frequency

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    Pages 395-417

19. Applications: Time-Based Navigation

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    Pages 419-447

20. Concluding Thoughts

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    Pages 449-456

One of the indicators of the level of technological development of a society has been, throughout history, the precision of clocks it was able to build. This book examines the physical principles underlying the workings of clocks--from the earliest mechanical clocks to the present-day sophisticated clocks based on the properties of individual atoms. Intended for non-specialists with some knowledge of physics or engineering,the book treats the material in a broad intuitive manner, with a minimum of mathematical formalism. The presentation covers a broad range of salient topics relevant to the measurement of frequency and time intervals. The main focus is on electronic time-keeping: clocks based on quartz crystal oscillators and, at greater length, atomic clocks based on quantum resonance in rubidium, cesium, and hydrogen atoms, and, more recently, mercury ions. The book treats the revolutionary changes that the optical laser has wrought on atomic standards through laser cooling and optical pumping, and it discusses the application of these clocks to global navigation--in particular Loran-C and the Global Positioning System. The book also touches on such topics as atomic resonance line shape, the relativistic Doppler effect and general notions of time, including the relativity of future and past, the clock paradox, the Sagnac effect and finally, time reversal symmetry.

• Applications
• Atomic
• Atomic Clocks
• Beat
• Major
• cesium fountain
• forbidden transitions
• frequency standards
• horology
• hydrogen maser
• hyperfine structure
• ion resonance
• ion trap
• laser cooling
• lasers
• loran c
• ma
• mach's principle
• magnetic resonance

From the reviews of the second edition:

"This revision is a very complete account of the evolution of frequency and time measurement with emphasis on the development of atomic clocks. … The 20 chapters include a wide range of topics starting with a brief history of time measurements. … Complete index, extensive references, list of suggested readings by topic. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through professionals; two-year technical program students." (R. L. Stearns, CHOICE, Vol. v4 (3), November, 2007)

• Severna Park, USA

  F. G. Major

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