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Physics

Atomic / molecular / quantum

Projects/Programs

Displaying 1 - 25 of 44
Schematics and diffraction patterns

Aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy

Ongoing
As devices continue to become smaller, more complex, and more highly integrated, atomic scale measurements of their structure, chemistry, strain, and electric field are increasingly crucial for device design, reliability, and optimization. The aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron
qim image

Advanced Microwave Photonics

Ongoing
NIST is home to a broad interdisciplinary program in quantum information science. NIST is exploring multiple implementations of qubits and strategies for taking advantage of quantum effects to compute, simulate, and improve fundamental measurement strategies. Josephson junctions are at the heart of
joint quantum institute

Applications of Quantum Information

Ongoing
Human-scale physical phenomenon represent the emergent, complex behavior of simple, microscopic laws. In the past twenty years, improved understanding of these microscopic laws have suggested that typical large-scale systems — those used in modern day technology from transistors to mechanical

Atomic Spectroscopy Data Center

Ongoing
The Atomic Spectroscopic Data Center at NIST provides the most comprehensive collection of atomic spectroscopy data in the world. We monitor scientific literature and maintain bibliographic databases of all papers containing spectroscopic data. By evaluating and compiling data on energy levels
shaded quasi sphere

Atomic Standard for Pressure

Ongoing
Atomic physicists have calculated the pressure p( n, T) of helium gas as a function of the gas's temperature T and its refractive index at microwave frequencies, n. Near room temperature and 4 MPa, the fractional uncertainties from the calculations, the impurities in helium, state-of-art

Atomic Wavefunctions

Ongoing
The numerical solution of the multi-particle Schrodinger equation describing atomic systems remains a challenging for computational physics. ITL scientists are in the forefront of this field with respect to extremely high-accuracy computation of non-relativistic eigenstates of few electron systems.
SI Base Units chart

Calibration of Force Transducers

Ongoing
The calibration report describes the relationship between the applied force and the measured deformation, either in electrical or mechanical units. A transducer can be calibrated using (1) a readout device furnished by the customer, in which case the transducer and the readout device are calibrated
traceability chain illustration

Calibration of Mass Standards

Ongoing
Redefinition of the Kilogram and Consensus Value of the Kilogram The unit of mass was redefined in May 2019 as part of a general revision to the International System of Units (SI). See SI Redefinition. The kilogram is now defined by the Planck constant. The International Prototype Kilogram (IPK) no

CODATA values of the fundamental physical constants

Ongoing
CODATA recommended values of the constants Database of references for data on the constants Publications: Reviews of Modern Physics ( 1998) ( 2002) ( 2006) ( 2010) ( 2014) Journal of Physical and Chemical Reference Data ( 1998) ( 2006) ( 2010) Resource Letter FC-1: The physics of fundamental
EBIT

Electron Beam Ion Trap (EBIT) Facility

Ongoing
The NIST EBIT is a table-top device which can produce matter in excess of ten million degrees Kelvin. At these temperatures, even the heaviest atoms shed most of their electrons. The highly charged ions which result are trapped by a configuration of electric and magnetic fields in an ultrahigh
2D Material Electronic Test

Electronic Material Characterization

Ongoing
Manufacturing optimized devices that incorporate newly-emerging materials requires predictable performance throughout device lifetimes. Unexpected degradation in device performance, sometimes leading to failure, is often traceable to poor material reliability. Reliability is rooted in the stability
tripeptides

Far-infrared Spectroscopy of Biomolecules (Archived)

Completed
We employ novel complimentary measurement and theoretical techniques to explore the low frequency intramolecular dynamics of model biological molecules including amino acids, short peptides with constrained structures, proteins with well-defined tertiary structures and DNAs. Our current efforts
schematic diagram

Fundamental Constants in Nature

Ongoing
The Task Group on Fundamental Constants periodically publishes updated evaluations of the fundamental constants of physics and chemistry. These evaluations serve two purposes. First, they provide a self-consistent set of recommended values of the constants for all to use. Second, because they
Fourier transform spectrometer

High Resolution Atomic Spectroscopy

Ongoing
For many decades, the Atomic Spectroscopy Group at NIST has measured atomic data of vital use to astronomy and other fields using high resolution spectrometers that are found in few other places in the world. These include a 2-m path difference Fourier transfer (FT)spectrometer, a vacuum ultraviolet
Transmission Electron Micrograph

Hybrid Quantum Optomechanical Systems with Solid-State Artificial Atoms

Ongoing
Quantum Dot – Surface Acoustic Wave Microwave-to-Optical Transducers In this project, we focus on coupling nanoscale acoustic resonators with InAs quantum dot (QD) single photon sources (Fig. 1). At ultra-low temperatures, such as those in a dilution refrigerator, the acoustic resonators act as
Xiao Tang of NIST's Information Technology Laboratory holding up an optical fiber channel

ITL Quantum Information Program

Ongoing
The principal goals of the ITL Quantum Information Program are: To understand the potential (both opportunities and risks) for quantum information to revolutionize information science. To develop theory, methods, architectures and algorithms to enable engineering and testing of quantum computing

Light-matter interactions in Semiconductor Nanostructures

Ongoing
We investigate the interaction of light with semiconductor-based nanostructures. We extend concepts of entanglement and coherence in atomic physics to our solid-state systems. Our devices are based on semiconductors, like GaAs. We use InAs quantum dots (QDs) in GaAs as artificial atoms; they have

Micro- and nano-optomechanical systems

Ongoing
Our primary current research direction involves the use of fabricated devices with sub-wavelength periodicity (photonic crystals) as optomechanical elements. Such structures enable a rich variety of devices, including mirrors, polarizers, and filters, in a configuration that couples naturally to

Modeling and Simulation of Nanofabrication (Archived)

Completed
While self-assembly is still in its relative infancy with respect to practical use, with much additional research required to reach maturity, the more widely utilized top-down methods will continue to require advances and modifications to improve current nanomanufacturing techniques. This modeling