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The Global Positioning System The Path From Research to Human Benefit (1996) / Chapter Skim
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Rabi's Clock
Pages 6-6

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From page 6...
... The closer the oscillation frequency of that field to the frequency of the hyperfine transition of the atom, the more atoms absorb energy from the field and thereby undergo a transition from the original hyperfine state to another one. A feedback loop adjusts the frequency of the oscillating field until virtually all the atoms make the transition.
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Key Terms

  • oscillating electromagnetic
  • electromagnetic field
  • atomic clock
  • resonant frequencies
  • national physical

  • atoms absorb
  • hyperfine state
  • physical laboratory
  • pass twice
  • discrete characteristic

  • particular hyperfine
  • generate time
  • substantial progress
  • atom undergoes
  • natural resonant

  • university laboratory
  • standards based
  • electromagnetic wave
  • state passes
  • british national

  • characteristic frequency
  • norman ramsey
  • accurate clock
  • time pulses
  • clocks based

  • original hyperfine
  • precise resonant
  • oscillation frequency
  • rabi invented
  • thereby undergo


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