This talk is the first of two lectures introducing atomic clocks, their applications to national security, and the latest state-of-the-art. The series should enable someone with an upper-level undergraduate technical background to understand, appreciate, and participate in the strategy discussions related to this type of quantum sensor.
Dr. Steven Jefferts describes what an atomic clock is, provides the early history of its development, and introduces key performance parameters for measuring its quality. He also discusses common design trade-offs in clock technology.
