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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2001. An Assessment of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Measurement and Standards Laboratories: Fiscal Year 2001. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10204.
×

An Assessment of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Measurement and Standards Laboratories

Fiscal Year 2001

Board on Assessment of NIST Programs

Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences

National Research Council

National Academy Press
Washington, D.C.

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2001. An Assessment of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Measurement and Standards Laboratories: Fiscal Year 2001. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10204.
×

NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the Board and panels responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance.

This study was supported by Contract No. 50SBNB8C1003 between the National Academy of Sciences and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the organizations or agencies that provided support for the project.

Additional copies of this report are available from:

Board on Assessment of NIST Programs

National Research Council

2101 Constitution Avenue, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20418

Internet, http://www.nap.edu

Copyright 2001 by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.

Printed in the United States of America

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2001. An Assessment of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Measurement and Standards Laboratories: Fiscal Year 2001. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10204.
×

THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES

National Academy of Sciences

National Academy of Engineering

Institute of Medicine

National Research Council

The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters. Dr. Bruce M.Alberts is president of the National Academy of Sciences.

The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members, sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achievements of engineers. Dr. Wm.A.Wulf is president of the National Academy of Engineering.

The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to secure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its congressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government and, upon its own initiative, to identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Kenneth I.Shine is president of the Institute of Medicine.

The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology with the Academy’s purposes of furthering knowledge and advising the federal government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, the Council has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both Academies and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Bruce M.Alberts and Dr. Wm.A.Wulf are chairman and vice chairman, respectively, of the National Research Council.

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2001. An Assessment of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Measurement and Standards Laboratories: Fiscal Year 2001. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10204.
×
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2001. An Assessment of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Measurement and Standards Laboratories: Fiscal Year 2001. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10204.
×

BOARD ON ASSESSMENT OF NIST PROGRAMS

LINDA CAPUANO,

Honeywell,

Chair

ROBERT M.NOWAK,

Michigan Molecular Institute,

Vice Chair

ROSS B.COROTIS,

University of Colorado at Boulder

HERWIG KOGELNIK,

Bell Laboratories, Lucent Technologies

SYED Z.SHARIQ,

Stanford University

Ex Officio Members

ROBERT A.ALTENKIRCH,

Mississippi State University

JANET S.BAUM,

Health, Education & Research Associates, Inc.

RALPH K.CAVIN III,

Semiconductor Research Corporation

RICHARD A.CURLESS,

Cincinnati Machine, a UNOVA Company

MARVIN F.DeVRIES,

University of Wisconsin-Madison

JAMES ECONOMY,

University of Illinois

JANET S.FENDER,

Air Force Research Laboratory

ARLENE A.GARRISON,

University of Tennessee

LOU ANN HEIMBROOK,

Agere Systems

DAVID W.JOHNSON, JR.,

Agere Systems

LORI S.NYE, Consultant,

Mountain View, California

TONY SCOTT,

General Motors Corporation

JAMES W.SERUM,

Viaken Systems, Inc.

NEVILLE V.SMITH,

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

LOUISE H.TREVILLYAN,

IBM T.J.Watson Research Center

Board Staff

DOROTHY ZOLANDZ, Director

ELIZABETH L.GROSSMAN, Program Officer

BARBARA JONES, Administrative Assistant

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2001. An Assessment of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Measurement and Standards Laboratories: Fiscal Year 2001. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10204.
×
This page in the original is blank.
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2001. An Assessment of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Measurement and Standards Laboratories: Fiscal Year 2001. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10204.
×

Preface

This volume represents the 42nd annual assessment by the National Research Council (NRC) of the technical quality and relevance of the programs of the Measurement and Standards Laboratories of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). This assessment is the work of 143 members of the NRC’s Board on Assessment of NIST Programs and its panels. These individuals were chosen by the NRC for their technical expertise, their practical experience in running research programs, and their knowledge of industry’s needs in basic measurements and standards. Each has given of his or her time without remuneration to participate in this assessment process.

I am continually impressed with the amount of time and energy that these review participants are willing to give to this assessment process. In a period when professional demands seem to press more and more strongly on everyone, these individuals have taken six to seven days total away from their jobs, on average, to participate in this assessment. Their willingness to do so speaks to the importance they attach to the NIST mission and to their commitment to the idea of striving for improved performance through performance measurement. I wish to thank the expert members of the Board and panels for their participation in and dedication to this process. Without their willingness to contribute their time and expertise, NIST would be deprived of a valuable management tool.

I am also impressed with the responsiveness of NIST to the findings of the Board and its panels. NIST managers and scientists have treated the assessment process as an opportunity to gain fresh insight into their programs and customers and have modified their plans and programs according to these insights. It is reassuring to see a federal agency so committed to program excellence and responsiveness to customer needs. The success of this assessment is dependent upon NIST cooperation and receptiveness to the inquiries and activities of the Board and panels. We thank NIST staff for the time spent in meeting with Board and panel members, as well as the time spent in preparing background information for them.

In 2001, NIST celebrates the centennial of its founding as the National Bureau of Standards in 1901. The contributions that this agency has made to the common good, to the advancement of national interests, and to the advancement of science and engineering in those 100 years are widely recognized. NIST can be

Page viii Cite
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2001. An Assessment of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Measurement and Standards Laboratories: Fiscal Year 2001. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10204.
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proud of the many and diverse achievements its staff have realized over its history. The Board and panel members join me in congratulating the current staff on this milestone in the agency’s history.

In carrying out this assessment, the Board and panels sought to meet the specific charge given by NIST and reproduced in Appendix A. I hope that the readers of this report find it to be fully responsive to the charge and that those with responsibility for oversight of NIST programs will regard this report as a useful tool in efforts to continually improve the programs of that respected institution.

Linda Capuano, Chair

Board on Assessment of NIST Programs

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2001. An Assessment of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Measurement and Standards Laboratories: Fiscal Year 2001. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10204.
×

Acknowledgment of Reviewers

This report has been reviewed by individuals chosen for their diverse perspectives and technical expertise, in accordance with procedures approved by the NRC’s Report Review Committee. The purpose of this independent review is to provide candid and critical comments that will assist the institution in making its published report as sound as possible and to ensure that the report meets institutional standards for objectivity, evidence, and responsiveness to the study charge. The review comments and draft manuscript remain confidential to protect the integrity of the deliberative process. We wish to thank the following individuals for their review of this report:

Ronald L.Alpert, Factory Mutual Research Corporation,

Robert Blancett, U.S. Gypsum Research and Technology, Inc.,

Steven J.Bomba, sjBomba Company,

Rinn Cleavelin, International SEMATECH,

John W.Coburn, IBM Almaden (retired),

R.Graham Cooks, Purdue University,

Simon Gibbs, Sony Electronics, Inc.,

Alastair M.Glass, Lucent Technologies,

Phillip Gould, University of Connecticut,

Andrew J.Hazelton, Nikon Research Corporation of America,

Roger F.Hoyt, IBM Technology Group,

Jeremy Isenberg, Weidlinger Associates, Inc.,

Brian W.Kernighan, Princeton University,

James McElroy, National Electronics Manufacturing Initiative,

Peter G.Neumann, SRI International,

James B.Nottke, DuPont Company (retired),

John R.Rice, Purdue University,

Harvey W.Schadler, General Electric Corporate Research and Development (retired),

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2001. An Assessment of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Measurement and Standards Laboratories: Fiscal Year 2001. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10204.
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Don W.Shaw, Texas Instruments, Inc. (retired),

James J.Solberg, Purdue University,

Neal Sullivan, Schlumberger Semiconductor Solutions,

James S.Thorp, Cornell University,

Barry M.Trost, Stanford University,

John L.Volakis, University of Michigan,

John B.Wachtman, Jr., Rutgers University (retired),

C.Grant Willson, University of Texas, and

James C.Wyant, University of Arizona.

Although the individuals listed above have provided many constructive comments and suggestions, they were not asked to endorse the conclusions or recommendations, nor did they see the final draft of the report before its release. The review of this report was overseen by Norman Hackerman, the Robert A.Welch Foundation, appointed by the NRC’s Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences, who was responsible for making certain that an independent examination of this report was carried out in accordance with institutional procedures and that all review comments were carefully considered. Responsibility for the final content of this report rests entirely with the authoring committee and the institution.

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2001. An Assessment of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Measurement and Standards Laboratories: Fiscal Year 2001. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10204.
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4

 

Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory

 

83

   

Laboratory-Level Review,

 

85

   

Divisional Reviews,

 

90

   

Biotechnology Division,

 

90

   

Process Measurements Division,

 

96

   

Surface and Microanalysis Science Division,

 

102

   

Physical and Chemical Properties Division,

 

111

   

Analytical Chemistry Division,

 

118

   

Major Observations,

 

127

5

 

Physics Laboratory

 

129

   

Laboratory-Level Review,

 

131

   

Divisional Reviews,

 

135

   

Electron and Optical Physics Division,

 

135

   

Atomic Physics Division,

 

139

   

Optical Technology Division,

 

145

   

Ionizing Radiation Division,

 

149

   

Time and Frequency Division,

 

156

   

Major Observations,

 

161

6

 

Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory

 

163

   

Laboratory-Level Review,

 

165

   

Divisional Reviews,

 

167

   

Ceramics Division,

 

167

   

Materials Reliability Division,

 

171

   

Polymers Division,

 

175

   

Metallurgy Division,

 

179

   

Major Observations,

 

182

   

Review of the NIST Center for Neutron Research,

 

183

7

 

Building and Fire Research Laboratory

 

193

   

Laboratory-Level Review,

 

195

   

Divisional Reviews,

 

202

   

Structures Division,

 

202

   

Building Materials Division,

 

206

   

Building Environment Division.

 

213

   

Fire Research Division,

 

218

   

Office of Applied Economics and Standards and Codes Services,

 

224

   

Major Observations,

 

228

8

 

Information Technology Laboratory

 

229

   

Laboratory-Level Review,

 

231

   

Divisional Reviews,

 

238

   

Mathematical and Computational Sciences Division,

 

238

   

Advanced Networking Technologies Division,

 

243

   

Computer Security Division,

 

247

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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2001. An Assessment of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Measurement and Standards Laboratories: Fiscal Year 2001. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10204.
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This volume represents the 42nd annual assessment by the National Research Council (NRC) of the technical quality and relevance of the programs of the Measurement and Standards Laboratories of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). This report provides judgments regarding the overall state of the NIST Measurement and Standards Laboratories (MSL),and offers findings to further increase the merit and impact of NIST MSL programs. It also offers in-depth reviews of each of the seven laboratories of the MSL, with findings aimed at their specific programmatic areas.

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