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Projects/Programs

Topic Area
Displaying 226 - 250 of 469
nist-on-a-chip illustration

Integrated Optical Atomic Devices

Ongoing
The NIST on a Chip project in the Atomic Devices and Instrumentation group is focused on the development of compact, manufacturable, low power, SI-traceable calibration instruments using atomic vapor cells. We anticipate such devices could be broadly used in industrial settings for in-situ
epilayer

Integrated Photonics

Ongoing
The Integrated Photonics Project utilizes heterogeneous materials integration to demonstrate novel optoelectronic devices such as semiconductor lasers, wavelength converters, and polarization rotators with compact form. We use materials including silicon, silicon dioxide, tantalum pentoxide, and
Crossbar Memory Arrays

Integrated Testbeds for Advanced Metrology

Ongoing
Crossbar Memory Arrays An especially prolific structure in memory architectures aimed at accelerating neural network operation is the crossbar array (Fig. 1). We produce medium-scale arrays that hold up to 20,000 nanodevices which can be characterized, read from, and written to individually or in
Interdomain Distance Measurements of Monoclonal Antibodies illustration

Interdomain Distance Measurements of Monoclonal Antibodies

Ongoing
Through collaboration with researchers at the Institute for Biotechnology and Bioscience Research (IBBR), we have created a library of site-specific spin-labeled and stable isotope-labeled binding partner proteins for the NIST monoclonal antibody (NISTmAb) reference material ( RM8671). Using pulsed
error coding

Interferometry: Quantum Error Coding in a 4-Blade Neutron Interferometer

Completed
Single crystal neutron interferometers are extremely sensitive to environmental noise, including vibrations. This sensitivity is a result of slow neutron velocity and the long measurement times. Most neutron interferometers require vibration isolation. Usually, massive systems are employed to damp
cryostat

Interferometry: Studying Quantum Materials using Neutron Interferometry

Ongoing
Neutron interferometry using perfect-silicon single crystals is a precision measurement technique that combines the neutron’s unique quantum nature with the neutron’s diverse set of interactions. Interferometry has traditionally been used in fundamental physics applications. However, there is
skyrmions

Interferometry: Three-Dimensional Visualization of Magnetic Skyrmions

Ongoing
Magnetic Skyrmions are localized regions in a material where the atomic spins exhibit a defect swirling pattern (topological change equal to one). Skyrmions are unique because they behave like tiny, stable particles and require only ultralow current densities to manipulate. This makes them ideal
guide to the SI covers

International System of Units (SI)

Ongoing
Members of the Fundamental Constants Data Center (FCDC) participate in meetings of the Consultative Committee for Units (CCU) which advises the International Committee for Weights and Measures on matters concerning the SI. The latest meeting of the CCU, held at the BIPM in June of 2013 was attended

Ion Traps

Ongoing
Trapped ions are sensitive to electric-field noise from trap-electrode surfaces. This noise has been an obstacle to progress in trapped-ion quantum information processing (QIP) experiments for more than a decade. It causes motional heating of the ions, and thus quantum-state decoherence. This
Figure with the word “isotope” and related icons superimposed on a photograph of a man pointing to the figure.

Isotope Metrology

Ongoing
The application of isotope measurements drives advances in an enormous number of fields and stakeholder engagements, including federal and state government agencies, academia, and private industry including the medical industry. The objective of the NIST Isotope Metrology Program is to address the
NIST Shielded Room

Johnson Noise Thermometry

Completed
The NIST Gaithersburg JNT project produces data useful for verification of the International Temperature Scale of 1990 (ITS-90) over a temperature range from 500 K to 930 K. This range overlaps those covered by other thermodynamic methods, most notably the upper-most range of Acoustic Thermometry
TKID devices

Kinetic Inductance Spectrophotometry

Ongoing
Within this application space, the transition-edge sensor (TES) microcalorimeter is the most mature technology, with demonstrated x-ray energy resolving capabilities of better than a part per thousand. Current TES readout techniques require the use of superconducting quantum interference device
A chart showing the various sectors served by the Laser Power & Energy Meter calibrations project as of 2025

Laser Power and Energy Meter Calibrations

Ongoing
We serve Industry, DoD, and research institutions by calibrating instruments used to measure the power or energy emitted by a laser, or single photon source. From Single Photons to Kilowatts, Longwave Infrared to Deep Ultraviolet, Free-space and Fiber, we can calibrate your instruments. The chart to
Cryogenic sapphire optical cavity

Laser Stabilization and Coherence with Optical Resonators

Ongoing
Coherent laser interrogation of the narrowband electronic ‘clock’ transition is required to realize the very high spectroscopic resolution that make optical clocks so precise. At the same time, phase fluctuations in the laser interrogation can compromise the frequency stability of the optical clock
laser wavelength

Laser-wavelength conversion with nonlinear photonics

Ongoing
Many sophisticated technologies, including detection and characterization of biological samples, quantum sensing of magnetic and electric fields, time standards based on atomic clocks, and precision metrology, demand versatile laser sources spanning a broad range of wavelengths. Nonlinear optics
block

SI Length and Traceability

Ongoing
Laser interferometry, which measures distances in terms of the wavelength of light, provides the backbone of top-level length metrology in industry and science. This project develops techniques to facilitate the tie between interferometer-based length measurements and the SI definition of length (in

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
feedhorn array

Long Wavelength Sensors and Applications

Ongoing
Our project designs and micro-fabricates custom devices that achieve sensitivity at fundamental limits and are based on the principles of superconductivity. We often work in large collaborations to apply these devices to challenging measurements of high scientific interest, such as those which
5 MHz Graph of phase noise vs. offset frequency showing NIST synthesized signal, Wenzel OXCO, and BVA oscilloquartz.

Low-Phase Noise Frequency Synthesis

Ongoing
Frequency synthesis plays an essential role in virtually all present-day commercial, industrial, and military technologies. State-of-the-art low-noise frequency synthesis is a crucial technical asset to high-resolution imaging and radar, high-speed telecommunications, and efficient management of the
earth and moon

Lunar Spectral Irradiance (LUSI)

Ongoing
Earth observing satellite sensors were once the exclusive domain of large satellite platforms used by government agencies for the purpose of national security, defense, weather prediction and disaster mitigation. These satellites typically carry onboard radiometric calibrators that along with pre
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