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Physical Measurement Laboratory / Sensor Science Division

Optical Radiation Group

Projects/Programs

Displaying 1 - 25 of 29
3D plot

Applied spectroradiometry and imaging metrology

Ongoing
Stray light correction Array instruments are subject to measurement errors arising from detector's blooming, smearing, nonlinearity, and instrument's stray light. These errors (except the stray-light error) can either be avoided or corrected in many cases. However, the stray light, due to scattered
absolute cryogenic radiometer

Bilateral Comparison of Spectral Responsivity in the Vacuum-Ultraviolet

Completed
The last decade has seen numerous key comparisons in the field of photometry and radiometry between different national metrology institutes (NMIs) in the context of the Mutual Recognition Arrangement. At first, these comparisons were restricted to wavelengths longer than 200 nm, with just the

Calibration of Space Weather Observational Instruments at NIST

Ongoing
Space-weather events are naturally occurring phenomena caused by activity on the Sun that affect us here on Earth. Solar storms can impact technology we rely on daily, like e.g. the Global Positioning System (GPS), communication satellites, and electric power grids. Various phenomena that originate
EUV optics degradation in space

Degradation of extreme-ultraviolet optics

Ongoing
The primary degradation process in EUVL tools and satellite instruments begins by the adsorption of water or carbonaceous molecules from the vacuum environment onto the optic surface. The optic is damaged if the molecule undergoes photon-stimulated decomposition before it can (reversibly) thermally

Detector metrology

Ongoing
Improved detector technology in the past two decades has opened a new era in detector metrology of optical radiation measurements. Lower calibration and measurement uncertainties can be achieved with modern detector/radiometer standards than traditionally used source standards (blackbodies and lamps

Detector-based color scale

Ongoing
The expanded uncertainty of the NIST primary color-temperature lamp-standards is 8 K ( k=2). However, both the long-term stability and the spectral distribution of the lamps can significantly change with burning time. By performing the tristimulus colorimeter calibrations against detector standards
Harnessing EUV capabilities for non-destructive metrology

EUV Scatterometry

Ongoing
To measure and inspect the smallest printed features on an IC chip, researchers and manufacturers use a combination of electron scanning modalities (i.e., transmission electron and scanning electron microscopies) and an optical method, scatterometry. Industrially, the most common modality for
Zone Plate Schematic

EUV Zone Plates for Compact Solar Radiometer

Ongoing
A zone plate is an optical element used to separate and focus individual wavelengths of light. The zone plate consists of small circular rings that are opaque to the light separated by gaps, which are transparent. The incident light diffracts from the zone plate at an angle that depends on the
silicon photodiode

Extreme Ultraviolet Detector Calibration Service

Ongoing
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has a wide variety of programs for the calibration of instruments and components for space-based research in the extreme ultraviolet (EUV). Many of these programs have been in existence since the 1960s, and have provided calibration support
Reflectance of two materials

Extreme ultraviolet optical constants

Ongoing
Measurements of EUV optical constants are often made by measuring the absorption or near-normal-incidence reflectivity, then performing transforms to obtain both the real and imaginary parts of the index. These sorts of measurements have considerable uncertainty because they require knowledge of

Metrology of Dim Light Sources

Ongoing
“What is the lowest amount of light that this instrument can detect?” is an important yet unmet measurement challenge. Evaluating the detection performance of complicated imaging instruments is crucial to quantifying substances of interest and the ability to compare results across instruments
EUV Relectivity

Metrology for extreme ultraviolet lithography

Ongoing
Patterning with light 13 nm brings a host a new challenges Light at 13 nm is well within the vacuum ultraviolet, where radiation is strongly absorbed by all materials. This requires that the technology take place in vacuum and rely on mirrors rather than lenses. Moreover generating sufficient
Normalized Spectra for 3 types of Night Vision Goggles, a blackbody, and an IR LED

Night Vision Goggle Gain Calibration

Ongoing
NIST cooperates with the three services (Air Force, Navy, and Army) to realize a uniform night vision goggle (NVG) calibration system with low measurement uncertainty. These efforts include transferring the NIST detector-based radiance and luminance responsivity scales to the primary standards
autonomous vehicles view from above

NIST Automated Vehicles Program

Ongoing
Measurement science and standards are needed to support the safe and predictable operation of future automated vehicles (AVs), which have great potential to significantly impact our daily lives and improve the competitiveness of our economy. A FY22 NIST Strategic and Emerging Research Initiatives
underwater view of MOBY

Ocean Color

Ongoing
The primary reference instrument for the United States and most international ocean-color sensors is the Marine Optical Buoy (MOBY), an automated radiometric system operated by NOAA and deployed about 20 km offshore from Lanai, Hawaii, where the atmospheric and water conditions support utilizing
Detector-Based Radiometric Scale for both power and irradiance modes, including traceability from Cryogenic Standard

Optical Radiation Metrology and Standard Radiometers

Ongoing
Radiometric, radiance temperature, photometric, and color scales have been realized based on the spectral responsivity of standard detectors and radiometers. These reference responsivity scales have been transferred to other NIST calibration facilities to realize and maintain these detector-based
NIST Standard Photometer and NIST issued luminous intensity standard lamp

Photometry

Ongoing
The development of revolutionary energy-efficient solid-state lighting (SSL) products has sparked the need for new performance metrics and measurement methods to address their unique construction and operating conditions. NIST has been working closely with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)

Quantitative Information from Images

Ongoing
Projects: Quantifying Amount of Material through Light Measurement Fluorescence and Luminescence Imaging for Surgical Guidance Fluorescence-guided imaging devices are being used for navigation in minimally invasive surgical procedures to increase a patient’s positive clinical outcomes and shorten
Thermoluminescent Dosimeter (TLD) Card

Radiation Sensitivity of Thermoluminescent Dosimeter Sensors

Completed
The radiation sensitivity of a Thermoluminescent Dosimeter (TLD) is defined as dosimeter light output per dose unit. TLD light output depends not only on the sensitivity of the TLD elements (Fig.1) but also on the transparency of the Teflon® used for their encapsulation. The effect of encapsulation
lamp/plaque method

Remote Sensing Laboratory

Ongoing
The Remote Sensing Laboratory (RSL) is designed to address Earth-oriented remote sensing radiometry for the spectral region from the ultraviolet (UV) to the short wave infrared (SWIR), or 250 nm to 2500 nm. For spectral radiance, several lamp-illuminated integrating sphere sources are arranged
Solar Flare

SDO/EVE/ESP Calibration

Ongoing
The SDO satellite is the first mission in NASA's Living With a Star program, which aims to understand the connections between the Sun and Earth. In addition to the light and heat with which we are familiar, the Sun produces x-ray radiation, extreme ultraviolet light, and the solar wind which
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