An Assessment of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Physics Laboratory Fiscal Year 2008 (2008) / Chapter Skim
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Optical Technology Division
Optical Technology Division
Pages 33-40
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From page 33... ...
The division provides the optical radiation measurement science and standards to aid the advancement and application of optical technology. Its accomplishments include new spectral irradiance standards from the SURF III facility; the development of total spectral radiant flux standards; and the development of the Low Background Infrared (LBIR)
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From page 34... ...
The Optical Properties and Infrared Technology Group establishes and disseminates primary measurement scales for the transmittance and reflectance of materials in the infrared (IR) spectral region; studies optical properties of materials in the near-, mid-, and far-infrared spectral regions; provides blackbody calibrations; performs research and development work to achieve accurate, high-precision radiometric measurements at low and ambient thermal background environments; and develops and calibrates transfer standard radiometers to be used for on-site NIST-traceable measurements of missile defense sensor test chambers.
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From page 35... ...
ASSESSMENT OF THE DIVISION The mission of the Optical Technology Division is to provide the foundation for optical radiation measurements for the United States. Its approach is to develop and disseminate national measurement standards and services to advance optical technologies spanning the terahertz through the infrared, visible, and ultraviolet spectral regions.
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From page 36... ...
These measurement responsibilities include derived photometric and radiometric units, the radiance temperature scale, spectral source and detector scales, and optical properties of materials such as reflectance and transmittance. A core activity of the division is the development of technical standards for industries relying on optical technologies.
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From page 37... ...
The relatively low permanent staff population appears to be partially related to the NIST overhead structure, which places the preponderant portion of the overhead on the permanent staff with little or no overhead being attached to the other technical personnel or the office or laboratory space usage. A NIST committee is addressing the NIST overhead structure.
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From page 38... ...
In this respect, a special role is filled by the Council for Optical Radiation Measurements, which periodically evaluates national needs in optical metrology and provides feedback on the services and standards supplied by the division. CORM is a body originally instituted by NIST to provide guidance and prioritization on technical needs in industry and research.
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From page 39... ...
However, it will be necessary for the Physics Laboratory to elucidate a comprehensive plan for organizing and staffing its expanded role in this area if it is to optimize its effectiveness. The division has outstanding measurement capabilities in the terahertz spectral region, originally based on traditional Fourier-transform techniques, and more recently it has been developing forefront capabilities for measurements using laser sources including both frequency-domain and time-domain approaches.
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From page 40... ...
The Physics Laboratory should elucidate a comprehensive plan for organizing and staffing its expanded role in the biophysics area if it is to optimize its effectiveness. The terahertz technical leads and the division management should enunciate the applications areas for the unusual capabilities of terahertz tools in which they will have desirable impact.
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