Possible Investigation of Relativistic Effects With the Aid of Molecular and Atomic Frequency Standards

Molecular beam masers

“…Because the interaction between molecules and the microwave field of the resonator depends upon spatial orientation, the probability of emission from the molecules in the resonator will depend upon reorientation effects which may occur between the state separator and the resonator. This phenomenon was first observed in an ammonia maser by Basov, Oraevskii et al (1963) with weak electric and magnetic fields of the order of lo4 Vm-1, 10-4 T respectively acting on the molecular beam outside the resonator. T h e effect was detected by the change in emission power and oscillation frequency of the maser.…”

“…The first amplitude measurements were reported by Strakhovskii and Tatarenkov (1962) and for masers operating on the J = 3, K = 3 and also the J = 3, K = 2 line of I4NH3, and independently by LainC and Srivastava (1963) on the J = 3, K = 3 line. More detailed studies were subsequently reported by Basov, Oraevskii, Strakhovskii and Tatarenkov (1963) and Smith and LainC (1968). If the second cavity C, is tuned to vo, and the first resonator C, tuned through vo, the amplitude of oscillation in C, takes the form sketched in figure 21 for two different amplitudes of oscillation in C,.…”

“…T h e theory of the phenomenon was discussed by Basov, Oraevskii et al (1963 in an attempt to explain their experimental results. It was shown that the effect is attributable to reorientation rather than transitions of molecules between levels induced by the weak fields, since the following adiabatic condition is satisfied:…”

“…T h e increase in flux of lower-state molecules produced when the maser oscillates at low amplitude has been studied by using a coaxial lower-state focuser and ionization detector. Spectroscopic methods have also been used by Basov, Oraevskii, Strakhovskii and Tatarenkov (1963) to show that the emergent beam from a one-or two-cavity maser oscillator is highly absorptive. Further investigations with a maser capable of very strong oscillation have shown that multiple inversions of the molecular populations of the beam are possible at the highest value of beam flux, as shown in figure 23 (Lain6 and Bardo 1970).…”

Precision laser spectroscopy in fundamental studies

“…2.1 Optical quantum generators for fundamental problems One of the pioneering studies, where molecular frequency standards were suggested for the investigation of relativistic effects, is the article by N G Basov et al [1], published in Physics±Uspekhi in 1961. The authors of this paper understood the huge opportunities offered by optical quantum generators and suggested that their unique properties be used to verify the postulates of general and special theories of relativity and to study some cosmological effects.…”