Atomic Clocks
Essen earned his Ph.D. (1941) and Doctor of Science (1948) from the University of London before becoming interested in the possibility of using the frequency of atomic spectra to improve time measurement. The feasibility of measuring time using caesium as an atomic reference had been demonstrated by the US National Bureau of Standards. In 1955, he developed, in collaboration with Jack Parry, the first practical atomic clock by integrating the caesium atomic standard with conventional quartz crystal oscillators to allow calibration of existing time-keeping.
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Famous quotes containing the words atomic and/or clocks:
“When man entered the atomic age, he opened a door into a new world. What we eventually find in that new world, nobody can predict.”
—Ted Sherdeman. Gordon Douglas. Dr. Medford (Edmund Gwenn)
“Weighing the steadfastness and state
Of some mean things which here below reside,
Where birds like watchful clocks the noiseless date
And intercourse of times divide,”
—Henry Vaughan (1622–1695)