An Assessment of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Measurement and Standards Laboratories, Fiscal Year 1998 (1998) / Chapter Skim
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5 Physics Laboratory
5 Physics Laboratory
Pages 85-120
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Chapter 5 Physics Laboratory
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PANEL MEMBERS David H Auston, Rice University, Chair Thomas M
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The laboratory's work in databases merits special mention here. The Physics Laboratory maintains large databases of fundamental atomic and molecular properties, including atomic energy levels, transition probabilities, and emission and absorption wavelengths.
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State-of-the-art spectroscopic research will provide new and improved standards and calibration services for industry. Through its Council on Ionizing Radiation Measurements and Standards (CIRMS)
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NIST-STRS, 29.8 31.4 excluding Competence Competence 2.9 I.9 ATP 0.8 1.6 MEP 0.0 0.0 Measurement Services 0.3 0.3 (SRM production) OAtNFG/CRADA 9.6 9.7 Other Reimbursable 3.4 3.4 Total 46.8 48.3 Staffing for the Physics Laboratory currently includes 207 fi~-time permanent positions, of which 174 are for technical professionals.
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Technical Merit and Appropriateness of Work The division's Photon Physics Group has continued its leadership role in the development of new technology in the EUV and x-ray regions of the electromagnetic spectrum and in the application of this technology to basic and applied research. The group's primary focus has been developing instrumentation to complement the unique capabilities of the SURF IT synchrotron light source, which allows application of this source to a variety of problems in metrology.
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In addition, the projected higher electron energy will increase the accessible photon energy, allowing the study of organic and biological materials. SURF Ill will be the worId's premier absolute broadband radiometric source in the far infrared through the EW regions of the electromagnetic spectrum.
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on quantitative comparisons between various magnetic imaging techniques. The KEEL has fabricated a magnetic imaging test sample from thin film high-density magnetic recording media with a test pattern and lithographically patterned navigation marks to allow repeated measurements of the same area of the sample.
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NIST-STRS, 4.7 5.0 excluding Competence ATP 0.1 0.2 OA/NFG/CRADA 0.8 0.5 Other Reimbursable 0.1 0. 1 Total 5.7 5.8 Staffing for the Electron and Optical Physics Division currently includes 27 full-time permanent positions, of which 24 are for technical professionals.
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This will permit direct observation of nanoscale surface modifications by the ions without removing the sample from the vacuum, greatly extending the value of the existing diagnostics using x-ray and electron spectrometers. Last year's report described the Laser Cooling and Trapping Group as one of the world's leaders in this vein new and rapidly developing field of atomic physics, and this year the accolade was corroborated by the award of the Nobel Prize to the group's leader.
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To improve dissemination of the LIST databases, the Physics Laboratory has developed (in the past 3 years) a freely accessible Internet Web site with a growing number of data compilations.
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~0.7 ATP 0.2 0.3 OA/NFG/CRADA 1.2 1.1 Other Reimbursable 0.2 0.2 Total 7.4 S 1 Staffing for the Atomic Physics Division currently includes 30 full-time permanent positions, of which 26 are for technical professionals.
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In the Technical Activities3 Summary, it gives its mission as providing national measurement standards and support services to advance the use and application of optical technologies spanning the ultraviolet through microwave regions for use in diverse industries and governmental and scientific enterprises. The mission of the Optical Technology Division, although similar in nature to those of other divisions in the Physics Laboratory, is significantly broader in scope owing to the diversity of its tasks.
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The Laser Applications Group continues to improve the state of the art in molecular spectroscopy for both chemical and biological applications in the mid- and far-IR spectral regions. IR absorption and nonlinear optical techniques such as sum frequency generation are being used to probe surface and interface electronic and vibrational states at metal, semiconductor, and dielectric solid and liquid interfaces.
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This work to model painted and coated surfaces is being done in collaboration with the NIST Building and Fire Research Laboratory and with the automotive and interior design industries. Additionally, an upgrade of the present spectral trifunction automated reference reflectometer instrument, currently used for reflectance and goniospectrophotometry measurements, is in the planning stages.
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This process is an essential enabling technology in the Semiconductor Industry Association Roadmap,4 which discusses technology necessary to produce computer chips with minimum feature sizes of ~ 80 nm. In the design of lithographic instruments for printing of these feature sizes, Lincoin Laboratories proposed to specify quartz and calcium fluoride optics.
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OA/NFG/CRADA 4.0 4.2 Other Reimbursable 0.5 0.5 Total 10.9 1 1.1 Staffing for the Optical Technology Division currently includes 46 full-time permanent positions, of which 41 are for technical professionals. There are also 13 nonpermanent and supplemental personnel, such as postdoctoral fellows and part-time workers.
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Technical Merit and Appropriateness of Work The Radiation Interactions and Dosimetry Group continues to pursue a broadly diversified program spanning metrology of ionizing radiation to development of new dosimetly tools and techniques. The recent increased activity in establishing a water-based, high-energy photon calibration technique is advancing rapidly.
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Finally, there are increasing opportunities for technology development that combine the use of ionizing radiation with biomedical applications. An obvious example is the use of biomater~als that are enhanced for magnetic resonance (~)
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Resources below: Funding sources for the ionizing Radiation Division (in millions of dollars) are presented 104
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Staffing for the Ionizing Radiation Division currently includes 35 full-time permanent positions, of which 3 ~ are for technical professionals. There are also four nonpermanent and supplemental personnel, such as postdoctoral fellows and part-time workers.
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Besides replacement of personnel who were lost due to attrition and retirement, the Ionizing Radiation Division could benefit from a full-time staff member devoted to the theoretical aspects of radiation interactions and an experienced biomedical engineer familiar with materials and the biological aspects of radiation effects. The laudatory involvement of the Ionizing Radiation Division in a variety of international standards issues will stretch and extend existing personnel resources throughout the division.
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Development is also proceeding on miniature, high-dimensional accuracy traps to confine the ions strongly with resulting improved performance in both frequency standards and trapped ion quantum computing. Work in the area of phase and amplitude noise and electronics for frequency standards and clocks continues to lead the world.
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There is some collaborative work with industry in the areas of gas cell frequency standards and tunable external cavity diode lasers. Calibrations are also important.
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offers the following major observations. The technical merit of the programs ongoing in the Physics Laboratory is very high, and many of the laboratory's efforts are at or define the state of the art in their field, as exemplified by LIST researcher Dr.
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Note that NIST participation in JILA formally occurs through the Quantum Physics Division of the Physics Laboratory. One member of the Time and Frequency Division is also a Myra Fellow.
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This research continues to span a broad spectrum, from measurements of parity nonconservation in atomic physics to progress in laser stabilization and optical frequency standards to the absolute determination of the Newtonian constant of gravitation. A principal unifying theme remains the development of new measurement techniques based on the considerable expertise in optical physics at ALA.
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The cases described above are only two examples ofthe highquality work performed at JAVA. In the following sections, the subpanel discusses five broad areas of research: fundamental and precision measurements, optical and nonlinear optical physics, ~2
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In the domain of atomic physics itself, the cesium parity nonconservation results are likely to stimulate advances in atomic theory and spectroscopic studies to improve on the current cesium calculations. This experiment exemplifies the standards of precision and technological innovation that are hallmarks of ~A.
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There is a strong potential for these efforts in nonlinear optical techniques to duplicate the great synergistic relationships between optics and precision measurements. Such associations have led to BEC and many other achievements.
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There are currently eight Astrophysics Fellows at ~A, and a few adjunct Fellows are still active in this field. In recent years, the JILA goals have largely turned away from the historical mission to perform laboratory astrophysics, although the J1LA Astrophysics Fellows still retain strong intellectual ties to MA Fellows in the LIST Quantum Physics Division and in the University of Colorado physics and chemistry departments.
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Impact of Programs The JILA programs are actively and effectively disseminated through technical publications, invited talks, and the guest researcher program. During 1996 and 1997, 392 technical papers were published, permanent and visiting Myra staff members gave 243 invited talks, and 43 guest researchers worked at ~A.
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This brings the total funding for ALA to approximately $~.6 million. Staffing for the NIST Quantum Physics Division currently includes 12 fi~-time permanent positions, of which 10 are for technical professionals.
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These two major changes would provide the institute with an unusual opportunity to shape the future course of its activities and, given its influence in the scientific community, to shape the future course of atomic and molecular physics. The decision by NIST some years ago to focus support on JILA activities outside of astrophysics plus the need for the University of Colorado astrophysics community to have its own central base appear to be the core forces driving the LILA Astrophysics Fellows to seek a separate identity.
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This process will be long and complicated, and according to the subpanel, there are five issues that are critical for JILA to consider as a transition plan is formulated: a clear commitment regarding the number of JILA Fellows from the University of Colorado and from NIST in the postastrophysics era; a clear plan and time line for hiring, including who will make the hiring decisions; a clear plan and time line for space utilization and availability and a clear plan and time line for eventual moves; a financial impact statement regarding the changes that will occur when the astrophysics subgroup leaves and 119
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. Precision measurement and metrology are at the heart of Maya and its success.
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