The Quantum Physics of Atomic Frequency Standards: Recent Developments

The Quantum Physics of Atomic Frequency Standards: Recent Developments, Second Edition, covers advances in atomic frequency standards (atomic clocks) from the last several decades.It explains the use of various techniques, such as laser optical pumping, coherent population trapping, laser cooling, and electromagnetic and optical trapping, in the implementation of classical microwave and optical atomic frequency standards. It provides an up-to-date, in-depth view of the vast improvements to atomic clocks that have occurred in the last 25 years.The improved stability and accuracy enable the verification of physical concepts used in fundamental theories, such as relativity, as well as the stability of fundamental constants intrinsic to those theories. The book first discusses improvements to conventional atomic frequency standards, highlighting the main limitations of those frequency standards and the physical basis of the limitations.It then describes how advances in the theory and appli