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Physical Measurement Laboratory

Developing and delivering trusted measurements to support national needs.

Illustration of DNA molecules entering a tube with lightning bolt in foreground
New Technique for Measuring DNA Damage Could Improve Cancer Therapy and Radiological Emergency Response
Illustration for quantum computing shows zeroes and ones hovering in space with background of electronic networking diagrams.
In Quantum Sensing, What Beats Beating Noise? Meeting Noise Halfway.

News and Updates

Events

Fundamentals of Metrology

73 Fundamentals of Metrology

Mon, Sep 15 - Fri, Sep 19 2025
The 5-day Fundamentals of Metrology seminar is an intensive course that introduces participants to the concepts of
Volume Metrology thumbnail

72 Volume Metrology Seminar

Mon, Sep 22 - Fri, Sep 26 2025
The 5-day OWM Volume Metrology Seminar is designed to enable metrologists to apply fundamental measurement concepts to

Awards

Using quantum sensing to detect pneumonia and asthma in children illustration

2025 AB Nexus Grant - Jun Ye

Principal Investigators: Lilliam Ambroggio, PhD (CU Anschutz) and Jun Ye, PhD (CU Boulder) Using quantum sensing and advanced laser
View All Awards

Press Coverage

Korean coins

Modern Techniques to Find Fakes

Numismatic News
From glued-on “desert dirt” to lab-grade corrosion tests, experts are working to spot artificially patinated coins before they fool collectors.

Patents

Continuous-Wave Laser Source And Making A Continuous-Wave Laser Source

NIST Inventors
Scott Papp
A method of designing a continuous-wave laser source having a target output wavelength and an input laser with a wavelength different from the target output wavelength includes the steps of receiving the target output wavelength, and subordinate properties of the laser source; determining a

Sound Pressure Metrology Instrument And Determining Sound Pressure From Index Of Refraction

NIST Inventors
Richard A. Allen , Randall P Wagner , Benjamin Reschovsky and Akobuije Chijioke
A sound pressure metrology instrument determines sound pressure from index of refraction and includes: a light source that produces source light; the optical cavity that: receives an acoustic field from the sound source; receives the source light from the light source; produces acoustic-modified

Contacts

PML Director and Deputy Director

Associate Director for Measurement Services and Associate Director

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