Quantum Metrology and Fundamental Physical Constants

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xii

   PDF

2. Introduction

   1. Historical Review

      • Pierre Giacomo

      Pages 1-13

3. Basic Physics of Time, Frequency and Length Measurements and Standards

   1. Basic Quantum Mechanics of Atomic Structures and Transitions

      • G. W. Series

      Pages 15-60

   2. Lineshapes in Nonlinear Spectroscopy

      • Carl E. Wieman

      Pages 61-76

   3. The Physics of Masers and Lasers

      • Pierre Cerez

      Pages 77-92

   4. Time and Frequency Standards

      • Pierre Cerez

      Pages 93-108

   5. Time Scales — Production and Distribution

      • Gerhard Becker

      Pages 109-142

   6. Standards of Length, Wavelength and Optical Frequency

      • K. M. Baird

      Pages 143-163

   7. Speed of Light, Historical Review to 1972

      • K. M. Baird

      Pages 165-179

   8. Frequency Measurements from the Microwave to the Visible, the Speed of Light, and the Redefinition of the Meter

      • K. M. Evenson

      Pages 181-207

4. Classical and Quantum Physics of Electrical Measurements and Standards

   1. Basis of Precision Electrical Metrology

      • Volkmar Kose

      Pages 209-220

   2. Precision Measurements of High Magnetic Fields and High Voltages

      • Volkmar Kose, Lothar Rahf, Jan-Dirk Sievert

      Pages 221-233

   3. Cryogenic Electrical Metrology

      • Volkmar Kose

      Pages 235-248

   4. Quantized Hall Resistance and the Realization of the SI ohm

      • Leendert Bliek, Volkmar Kose

      Pages 249-267

   5. Basic Physics of Superconductivity and Josephson Effects

      • S. Ramesh

      Pages 269-291

   6. Quantum Metrology and Electrical Standards: The Measurements of 2e/h and γ′p

      • B. W. Petley

      Pages 293-311

   7. Quantum Electrodynamics and Its Predictions

      • Toichiro Kinoshita

      Pages 313-331

5. The Fundamental Constants of Physics

   1. The Significance of the Fundamental Constants

      • B. W. Petley

      Pages 333-351

   2. Applications of New Absolute Measurements of X-rays and γ-rays

      • Richard D. Deslattes

      Pages 353-364

   3. Extension of the Congruent Electromagnetic Scale to γ-rays

      • Richard D. Deslattes

      Pages 365-381

The object of this NATO Advanced Study Institute was to pre­ sent a tutorial 'introduction both to the basic physics of recent spectacular advances achieved in the field of metrology and to the determination of fundamental physical constants. When humans began to qualify their description of natural phenomena, metrology, the science of measurement, developed along­ side geometry and mathematics. However, flam antiquity to modern times, the role of metrology was mostly restricted to the need of commercial, social or scientific transactions of local or at most national scope. Beginning with the Renaissance, and particularly in western Europe during the last century, metrology rapidly developed an international character as a result of growing needs for more accurate measurements and common standards in the emerging indus­ trial society. Although the concerns of metrology are deeply rooted to fundamental sciences, it was, until recently, perceived by much of the scientific community as mostly custodial in character.

• geometry
• mathematics
• measurement
• metrology
• physics

• The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, USA

  Paul H. Cutler

• Department de Physique, Facultes Universite Notre-Dame de la Paix, Namur, Belgium

  Amand A. Lucas

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