Abstract
Quantum Optics is a part of the more general subject of Quantum Electronics which includes atomic clocks as well as lasers. By utilizing our understanding of the quantum mechanical properties of ground state hyperfine transitions at microwave frequencies in certain atoms, very stable clocks have been made which allow highly accurate time measurements. Similar knowledge of optical transitions between electronic energy states in atoms allows lasers to be made with their many marvelous properties. These include the ability to produce very, very short pulses of light which can be used for optical radar and remote time comparison.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
C. O. Alley, Relativity and clocks, in “Proceedings, 33rd Annual Symposium on Frequency Control,” U. S. Army Electronics Research and Development Command, Fort Monmouth, N.J., pp 4–394 (1979). Copies available from Electronic Industries Association, 2001 Eye Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006. This reference, a review talk given at the time of the Einstein Centennial is similar in approach to the present paper, but contains more detail on some aspects of the technique of the experiments and more biographical material on Einstein. The author’s chief collaborators in the planning and execution of the esqaeriments were Dr. Leonard Cutler of the Hewlett-Packard Company, and Dr. Gemot Winkler of the U. S. Naval Observatory. Two other physicists who contributed much to the experiments are former University of Maryland, graduate research students, Dr. Robert Reisse, now at the University of Arizona and Dr. Ralph Williams, now at the Texas Instruments Company. The work of another University of Maryland graduate student, Dr. John Degnan, now at the Goddard Space Flight Center, on the short pulse laser used in the measurements was very important. The local experiments were performed during the period May 1975 through January, 1976 at the Patuxent Naval Air Test Center in Maryland with the support of the U. S. Navy. The global experiments were performed during the period May through July, 1977 from the Andrews Air Force Base in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C. and were jointly supported by the U.S. Air Force and Navy. Space does not permit the acknowledgment of the esential contributions made by the engineers and technicians at the University of Maryland, the Hewlett- Packard Co., and the U. S. Naval Observatory. These are listed in the reference cited above.
Banesh Hoffmann, “Albert Einstein, Creator and Rebel”, The Viking Press, New York (197 2). Paperback edition, New American Library, New York, London, and Scarborough, Ontario (1973). This is an excellent introduction to Einstein’s physics as well as a first-rate biography.
Hermann Bondi, “Relativity and Common Sense, A New Approach to Einstein,” Anchor Book Science Study Series, Doubleday and Company, Inc., Garden City, New York (1964). Reprinted by Dover Publications, Inc., New York (1980). The k-calculus is also discussed in another book by Bondi, “Assumption and Myth in Physical Theory,” Cambridge University Press (1967).
Hermann Minkowski, address to the 80th Assembly of German Natural Scientists and Physicians, Cologne, Germany, 21 September, 1908.
F. J. M. Farley, J. Bailey, and E. Picasso, Experimental verifications of the special theory of relativity,Nature, 217: 17 (1968).
R. V. Pound and G. A. Rebka, Apparent weight of photons,Phys. Rev. Lett., 4: 337 (1960).
A. Einstein, The fundamental idea of general relativity in its original form, excerpts printed inThe New York Times, March 28, 1972, p. 32.
P. G. Roll, R. Krotkov, and R. H. Dicke, The equivalence of inertial and passive gravitional mass,Ann. Phys. (U.S.A.) 26: 442 (1964).
V. B. Braginsky and V. I. Panov, Verification of the equivalence of inertial and gravitional mass,Zh. Eksp. & Teor. Fiz. 61:873 (1971). English translation inSov. Physics- JETP Lett. 10: 280 (1973).
J. G. Williams, R. H. Dicke, P. L. Bender, C.O.Alley, W. E. Carter, D. G. Currie, D. H. Eckhardt, J. E. Faller, W. M. Kaula, J. P. Mulholland, H. H. Plotkin, S. K. Poultney, P. J. Shelus, E. C. Silverberg, W. S. Sinclair, M. A. Slade, and D. T. Wilkinson, A new test of the equivalence principle from lunar laser ranging,Phys. Rev. Lett., 36:551 (1976). See also I. I. Shapiro, C. C. Counselman, III, and R. W. King, Verification of the principle of equivalence for massive bodies,Phys. Rev. Lett. 36:555 (1976). For a description of the lunar ranging experiment, see C. 0. Alley, Story of the development of the Apollo 11 laser ranging retro-reflector experiment,in “Adventures in Experimental Physics, ” Alpha: 128 (1972).
R. V. Pound and J. Snider, Effect of gravity on gamma radiation,Phys. Rev., 140:788. See also R. V. Pound, Terrestial measurements of the gravitational red shift,in “Albert Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity,” G. Tauber, ed., Crown Publishers, Inc., New York (1979).
J. Brault, The gravitational redshift in the solar spectrum, Ph. D. Thesis, Princeton University (1962). See alsoBull. Am. Phys. Soc., 8: 28 (1963).
J. E. Blamont and F. Roddier, Precise observation of the profile of the Fraunhofer strontium line. Evidence for the gravitational redshift on the sun, Phys. Rev. Lett., 7:437 (1961). See also, F. Roddier, fitude a haute resolution de quelques raies de Fraunhofer par observation de la resonance optique d’un jet atomique, Annales d’ Astrophysique, 28 (3):463 (1965).
J. Snider, New Measurements of the solar gravitational redshift,Phys. Rev. Lett., 28: 853 (1972).
J. C. Hafele and R. E. Keating, Around-the-world atomic clocks: Predicted relativistic time gains,Science, 177:166 (1972); Around-the-world atomic clocks: Observed relativistic time gains,Science, 177; 168 (1972).
L. Briatore arid S. Leschiutta, Evidence for the earth gravitational shift by direct atomic-time-scale comparison,II Nuovo Cimento B, 37B (2): 219 (1979).
S. Iijima and K. Fujiwara, An experiment for the potential blue shift at the Norikura Corona Station,Annals of the Tokyo Astronomical Observatory, Second Series, Vol. XVII, Number 2: 68 (1978).
R. F. C. Vessot and M. W. Levine, A test of the equivalence principle using a spaceborne clock,Gen. Relativ. Gray., 10: 181 (1979).
R. A. Reisse, The effect of gravitational potential on atomic clocks as observed with a laser pulse time transfer system, Ph.D. Thesis, University of Maryland (1976).
R. E. Williams, A direct measurement of the relativistic effects of gravitational potential on the rates of atomic clocks flown in an aircraft, Ph.D. Thesis, University of Maryland (1976).
M. Born, Physics and relativity,in “Physics in My Generation,” Pergamon Press, London and New York (1956). This was a lecture given at the International Relativity Conference in Berne, Switzerland, on 16th July, 1955. The remark about Stern and Gerlach is on p. 202. See also “The Born-Einstein Letters,” Irene Born, Trans., Walker and Company, New York (1971), commentary after Letter 13. Hie Frankfurt lectures by Born are available in English as “Einstein’s Theory of Relativity,” Dover Publications, Inc., New York (1962).
J. B. Thomas, Reformulation of the relativistic conversion between coordinate time and atomic time,Astronom. Journ., 80: 405 (1975).
Banesh Hoffmann, Noon-midnight red shift,Phys. Rev. 121: 337 (1961).
R. U. Sexl, Seasonal differences between clocks, Phys. Lett., 6lB:65 (1976).
W. H. Cannon and O. G. Jensen, Terrestrial Timekeeping and general relativity: A new discovery,Science 188:317 (1975). The errors in this paper were pointed out by many authors in letters toScience which were published: Acceleration and clocks,Science 191: 489 (1976). The authors retracted their claims in a letter published with the others.
T. McCaskill, J. White, S. Stebbins, and J. Buisson, NTS-2 frequency stability results, “Proceedings, 32nd Annual Symposium, on Frequency Control,” U. S. Army Electronics Research and Development Command, Fort Monmouth, N.J. (1978). Copies available from Electronic Industries Association, 2001 Eye Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006.
L. Brillouin, “Relativity Re-examined,” Academic Press, New York and London (1970). The first excerpt is on pp. 83 and 847 the second is on p. 40.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1983 Plenum Press, New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Alley, C.O. (1983). Proper Time Experiments in Gravitational Fields with Atomic Clocks, Aircraft, and Laser Light Pulses. In: Meystre, P., Scully, M.O. (eds) Quantum Optics, Experimental Gravity, and Measurement Theory. NATO Advanced Science Institutes Series, vol 94. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-3712-6_18
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-3712-6_18
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-3714-0
Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-3712-6
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive