Kurt E. Gibble

This two-volume set is the most comprehensive reference book on the physics of atomic clocks. It was completed just before the advent of laser-cooled atomic fountain clocks, which was when I entered this field as a postdoc. I referred to this set many times and, throughout the years since then, it was almost always my reference of first choice. Today, as the field is again undergoing a dramatic transformation to atomic clocks based on optical frequency transitions, the set remains remarkably useful. This clearly speaks to the vision and thoroughness of the authors, Jacques Vanier and Claude Audoin.