The Measurement of Fundamental Constants (Metrology) and Its Effect on Scientific and Technical Progress
It is perhaps appropriate that in this year 1975, which marks the centenary of the Systeme Metrique and that of the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures, scientific activity in the field of Metrology appears to be flourishing. This is witnessed on the one hand by the number, range and quality of the contributions to this Symposium and, on the other, by the importance which most of the 44 Governments affiliated to the BIPM attach both to their Basic Laboratories and to the network of technical centers engaged in developing measuring methods and in disseminating their results to all levels of the various branches of industry. Should this state of affairs be considered a happy but ephemeral stage in the march of science, or does it represent a tendency of fundamental importance in the evolution of science and technology ? Enough is now known about the history of civilization for us to affirm that, even since the Renaissance, Metrology has payed an ever greater part in both scientific and civic activities.
Detection of very weak magnetic fields (10−9gauss) by 87Rb zero-field level crossing resonances
Zero-field level crossing resonances have been observed on the ground state of 87Rb. The width, a few microgauss, and the signal to noise ratio, about 2.5 × 103, allow the measurement of 10−9 gauss fields.
Complex Systems Architecture Framework: Extension to Multi-objective Optimization
This paper shows the utility to follow an architecture framework in order to design complex systems with a holistic approach. Multi-objective Optimization techniques extend and complete the architecture framework to support trade-off analysis and decision making in the Systems Engineering design process. The merging and combination of these two approaches, decision making and systems engineering, contribute to the efficient design of systems by helping to meet needs and constraints stemming mainly from the system analysis.