The Measurement of Time

Acknowledgements; 1. Introduction to the book; 2. The principles of time measurement; 3. Time measurement and theoretical models; 4. The evolution of time measurement; 5. Clock time; 6. Atomic frequency standards; 7. Atomic time measurement; 8. Astronomical times; 9. Ultraprecise time and frequency applications; Appendices; References; Index.

Claude Audoin received his doctorate in physics from the Universite Paris Sud in 1967. He was Director of the Laboratoire de l'Horloge Atomique, Orsay, from 1972 to 1985 and managed research programmes related to hydrogen masers, optically pumped cesium beams, trapped ions, frequency stabilised lasers and frequency metrology. He has published numerous papers on the subject of atomic frequency standards and their metrological properties, and is co-author of a previous book covering the quantum physics of atomic frequency standards. Dr Audoin is also on the editorial board of Metrologia and is a member of the Bureau des Longitudes. Bernard Guinot was an officer in the merchant navy before receiving his masters degree in mathematics in 1952. He then joined the Paris Observatory and in 1958 received the Doctorat d'Etat. His research was devoted to fundamental astronomy, space geodesy and the measurement of time, and he is the author of numerous papers on these subjects. From 1964 to 1988, Dr Guinot was Director of the Bureau International de l'Heure, where he was involved in the transition to modern techniques for measuring the rotation of the Earth and the development of International Atomic Time, which is now under the responsibility of the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures. He is a member of the Bureau des Longitudes and the Academia Europaea.

'The Measurement of Time gives an excellent, detailed introduction to all aspects of time and frequency. Topics covered include principles, measurements, models, the evolution of time definitions, clock time, atomic standards, atomic time, astronomical time, ultra-precise time and frequency standards, as well as definitions and advanced time applications. All of these topics are well referenced, making this an excellent source for scientists and students in the field of time measurement as well as for historians of physics and astronomy. Most of the book should also be accessible to a more general audience. Although there are many other books on this subject for the general public, this is perhaps the most authoritative, as it provides the precise definitions used in this field.' Ken Johnston, Nature 'There are no people more fitting to summarize the timekeeping field than the book's authors Drs Audoin and Guinot, who helped shape many of the developments covered in the book ... The book's strongest point is that it provides excellent coverage of the fundamental physics behind the most precise clocks of modern times, including atomic beams, atomic fountains, masers, and trapped ions ... excellent ...'. Demetrios Matsakis, Journal of Geodesy '... describes current atomic timekeeping metrology in a pleasing and technically correct manner ... an ideal introductory book for graduate students and researchers interested in time and frequency, and would be very useful for people specializing in any related field.' Dr. Demetrios Matsakis, Journal of Geodesy 'A book about time measurement is a challenge, and because of their experience, the authors meet this challenge exceptionally well. ... extremely useful to readers who know some basic physics but are otherwise unfamiliar with the accurate measurement of time. ... a good reference to have on one's personal bookshelf.' Physics Today 'This book ... is an eclectic mix of history, natural philosophy, classical astronomy with