Title :
Optical frequency measurements
Author :
Jennings, Donald A. ; Evenson, Kenneth M. ; Knight, David J E
Author_Institution :
National Bureau of Standards, Boulder, CO, USA
Abstract :
This paper is a review of the history of the measurement of coherent optical frequencies. Since coherent optical frequency implies a laser device, this is therefore a review of laser frequency measurement. The development of frequency measurement from the Cs frequency standard to the visible is traced. Two related aspects of optical frequency measurements, the speed of light and the redefinition of the meter, are also discussed.
Keywords :
Diodes; Frequency measurement; Gas lasers; Laboratories; Laser theory; Measurement standards; Optical harmonic generation; Optical mixing; Time measurement; Velocity measurement;
Journal_Title :
Proceedings of the IEEE
DOI :
10.1109/PROC.1986.13430
