Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Speed of Light from Direct Laser Frequency and Wavelength Measurements: Emergence of a Laser Standard of Length

  • Chapter
Laser Spectroscopy

Abstract

Recent frequency and wavelength measurements of a methane stabilized laser yield a value of the speed of light 100 times less uncertain than the previously accepted value. Various possibilities using lasers as radiation sources for a new length standard are discussed. One possibility is to fix the value of the speed of light in the redefinition of the meter.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. The interested reader will find a useful, critical discussion of the speed of light in K. D. Froome and L. Essen, The Velocity of Light and Radio Waves (Academic Press, New York, 1969).

    Google Scholar 

  2. T. S. Jaseja, A. Javan, J. Murray, and C. H. Townes, Phys. Rev. 133, A 1221 (1964), using infrared masers; D. C. Champeney, G. R. Isaak, and A. M. Khan, Phys. lett. 7, 241 (1963), using Mössbauer effect.

    Article  MathSciNet  ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. B. Warner and R. E. Nather, Nature (London) 222, 157 (1969), from dispersion in the light flash from pulsar NP 0532, obtain Δ. c/ c ≤ 5 x 10-18 over the range λ = O.25 to 0.55 µm.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. E. E. Uzgiris, J. L. Hall, and R. L. Barger, Phys. Rev. Lett. 26, 289 (1971).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. J. Levine and J. L. Hall, J. Geophys. Res. 77, 2595 (1972).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. Donald Halford, H. Hellwig, and J. S. Wells, Proc. IEEE 60, 623 (1972).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. J. L. Hall and W. W. Morey, Appl. Phys. Lett. 10, 152 (1967).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. J. Hall, R. L. Barger, P. L. Bender, H. S. Boyne, J. E. Faller, and J. Ward, Electron Technol. 2, 53 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  9. K. M. Evenson, J. S. Wells, F. R. Petersen, B. L. Danielson, and G. W. Day, Appl. Phys. Lett. 22, 192 (1973).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  10. Z. Bay, G. G. Luther, and J. A. White, Phys. Rev. Lett. 29, 189 (1972).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  11. R. L. Barger and J. L. Hall, Phys. Rev. Lett. 22, 4 (1969).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  12. K. M. Evenson, G. W. Day, J. S. Wells, and L. O. Mullen, Appl. Phys. Lett. 20, 133 (1972).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. R. L. Barger and J. L. Hall, Appl. Phys. Lett. 22, 196 (1973).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  14. R. D. DeSlattes, H. P. Layer, and W. G. Schweitzer (paper in preparation).

    Google Scholar 

  15. P. Giacomo, results presented at the 5th session of the Comite Consultatif pour la Definition du Metre, BIPM, Sevres, France, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  16. K. M. Baird, D. S. Smith, and W. E. Berger, Opt. Comm., 7, 107 (1973).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  17. K. D. Froome, Proc. Roy. Soc., Ser. A247, 109 (1958).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  18. L. O. Hocker, A. Javan, D. Ramachandra Rao, L. Frenkel, and T. Sullivan, Appl. Phys. Lett. 10, 5 (1967).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. K. M. Evenson, J. S. Wells, L. M. Matarrese, and L. B. Elwell, Appl. Phys. Lett. 16, 159 (1970).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  20. K. M. Evenson, J. S. Wells, and L. M. Matarrese, Appl. Phys. Lett. 16, 251 (1970).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  21. L. M. Matarresse and K. M. Evenson, Appl. Phys. Lett. 17, 8 (1970).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  22. Antenna Engineering Handbook, edited by Henry Jasik (McGraw-Hill, New York, 1961), Chap. 4 and 10.

    Google Scholar 

  23. J. L. Hall in Esfahan Symposium on Fundamental and Applied Laser Physics, edited by M. Feld and A. Javan (Wiley, New York, to be published).

    Google Scholar 

  24. Charles Freed and Ali Javan, Appl. Phys. Lett. 17, 53 (1970).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  25. K. M. Evenson, J. S. Wells, L. M. Matarrese, and D. A. Jennings, J. Appl. Phys. 42, 1233 (1971).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  26. D. W. Allan, J. E. Gray, and H. E. Machlan, IEEE Trans. Instrum. Meas. IM-21, 388 (1972).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. H. Hellwig, R. F. C. Vessot, M. W. Levine, P. W. Zitzewitz, D. W. Allan, and D. Glaze, IEEE Trans. Instrum. Meas. IM-19, 200 (1970).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. T. G. Blaney, C. C. Bradley, G. J. Edwards, D.J.E. Knight, P. T. Woods, and B. W. Jolliffe, Nature, (to be published, 1973).

    Google Scholar 

  29. F. R. Petersen, D. G. McDonald, J. D. Cupp, and B. L. Danielson, “Accurate Rotational Constants, Frequencies, and Wavelengths from 12C16 O2 Lasers Stabilized by Saturated Absorption,” Proc. of the Laser Spectroscopy Conference, Vail, Colorado (June 1973).

    Google Scholar 

  30. Comite Consultatif pour la Definition du Metre, 5th session, Rapport, (Bureau International des poids et Mesures, Sevres, France, 1973).

    Google Scholar 

  31. G. R. Haines and C. E. Dahlstrom, Appl. Phys. Lett. 14, 362 (1969); G. R. Haines and K. M. Baird, Metrologia 5, 32 (1969).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  32. W. F. Snyder, IEEE Trans. on Instr. and Meas. IM-22, 99 (1973).

    Google Scholar 

  33. J. S. Wells and Donald Halford, NBS Tech. Note #620 May (1973).

    Google Scholar 

  34. S. R. Stein and J. P. Turneaure, Electron Lett., 8, 431 (1972).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Quantum Electronics Division, Institute for Basic Standards, National Bureau of Standards, Boulder, Colorado, 80302, USA

    K. M. Evenson, F. R. Petersen & J. S. Wells

Authors
  1. K. M. Evenson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. F. R. Petersen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. S. Wells
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. IBM Research Laboratory, San Jose, California, USA

    Richard G. Brewer

  2. Lincoln Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Lexington, Massachusetts, USA

    Aram Mooradian

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1974 Plenum Press, New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Evenson, K.M., Petersen, F.R., Wells, J.S. (1974). Speed of Light from Direct Laser Frequency and Wavelength Measurements: Emergence of a Laser Standard of Length. In: Brewer, R.G., Mooradian, A. (eds) Laser Spectroscopy. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-4517-6_11

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-4517-6_11

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-4519-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-4517-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation