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Physical Measurement Laboratory

News and Updates

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Earth Science: Seeing the Surface Clearly

November 24, 2014

Satellite observation has revolutionized our understanding of terrestrial conditions and climate dynamics. But the measurement science is extremely demanding

Protecting Vacuum Gauges: Patent Pending

November 21, 2014

PML researchers have applied for a provisional patent on a device to protect expensive "spinning-rotor" high-vacuum gauges – used as transfer standards and

UMD and NIST Announce the Creation of the Joint Center for Quantum Information and Computer Science

October 31, 2014

The University of Maryland (UMD) and the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announced today the creation of the

World's First Photonic Pressure Sensor Outshines Traditional Mercury Standard

October 29, 2014

For almost 400 years, mercury gauges have prevailed as the most accurate way to measure pressure. Now, within weeks of seeing "first light," a novel pressure

Paul Williams and Joshua Hadler operating the NIST calibration service for high-power lasers.

NIST Launches New Calibration Service for High-Power Lasers

October 29, 2014

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has launched a new calibration service for high-power lasers of the sort used by manufacturers for

Photo illustration of NIST experiment using a pair of laser frequency combs

NIST 'Combs' the Atmosphere to Measure Greenhouse Gases

October 29, 2014

By remotely "combing" the atmosphere with a custom laser-based instrument, researchers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), in

Building Better Body Armor: PML Provides Standards for US Army

October 28, 2014

NIST's Dimensional Metrology Group (DMG) in PML's Semiconductor and Dimensional Metrology Division is in the final stages of completing a three-phase task for

Trouble with a Capital 'G'

October 27, 2014

NIST has taken part in a new push to address a persistent and growing problem in physics: the value of G. The Newtonian constant of gravitation, used to

New High-Resolution X-ray Spectrometer for Beam Lines

October 24, 2014

NIST scientists have pioneered a technology that may speed the arrival of long-awaited materials and devices including advanced high-temperature superconductors

Better Diagnostic Imaging for Traumatic Brain Injuries

October 23, 2014

Image-calibration technology designed and developed by scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in collaboration with the

James Olthoff Named Director of NIST's Physical Measurement Laboratory

October 15, 2014

James Olthoff, a 27-year veteran of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), has been named director of the agency's Physical Measurement

NIST Laser Comb System Maps 3D Surfaces Remotely for Manufacturing, Forensics

October 7, 2014

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have demonstrated a laser-based imaging system that creates high-definition 3D maps of

Introducing the League of SI Superheroes: The New Champions of Metric

October 6, 2014

To celebrate Metric Week (Oct. 5-11), the National Institute of Standards and Technology would like to introduce you to the League of SI Superheroes. The League

Simultaneous Imaging of Ferromagnetic and Ferroelectric Domains

October 1, 2014

An international team led by researchers from the NIST Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology have discovered a new way to simultaneously image both the

Photons by the Numbers

September 25, 2014

A NIST team is at work on what promises to be one of the world's most accurate methods for generating a specified number of photons, and has devised a method to

Calibrating Cancer Radiotherapy Beams Using Light and Sound

September 17, 2014

Doctors shrink tumors with radiation therapy, but a badly calibrated beam can cause serious complications. Scientists in NIST's Radiation Physics Division in

NIST chip containing a single-photon detector made of superconducting nanowires. Four chips like this were used in the experiment that entangled three photons.

Three's a Charm: NIST Detectors Reveal Entangled Photon Triplets

September 15, 2014

Researchers at the University of Waterloo in Canada have directly entangled three photons in the most technologically useful state for the first time, thanks in

Measuring Absorption Maps and Spectra of Plasmonic Resonators with Nanoscale Resolution

September 10, 2014

Researchers from the NIST Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology (CNST) and the University of Maryland have for the first time used photothermal induced

NIST Helps Develop New Standard for Microsensor Technology

September 9, 2014

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has contributed to the development of a new standard for defining the performance of micromechanical

Polonium's Most Stable Isotope Gets Revised Half-Life Measurement

September 9, 2014

Scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have determined* that polonium-209, the longest-lived isotope of this radioactive heavy

Scientists Shed Light on Organic Photovoltaic Characteristics

September 2, 2014

Photovoltaic devices, also known as solar cells, produce electrical power when exposed to light, and that technology has enabled a fast-growing industry. The

Optical Microscope Technique Confirmed as Valid Nano-Measurement Tool

August 26, 2014

Recent experiments have confirmed* that a technique developed several years ago at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) can enable optical

EUV Calibrations for Satellite Sensors

August 25, 2014

Thanks to precision calibration measurements recently performed at NIST, satellites may soon be looking at sunlight with new and improved vision. On July 22

JILA Team Finds First Direct Evidence of 'Spin Symmetry' In Atoms

August 21, 2014

Just as diamonds with perfect symmetry may be unusually brilliant jewels, the quantum world has a symmetrical splendor of high scientific value. Confirming this

Scale-Model Smokestack To Study GHG Emissions Monitoring

August 15, 2014

Construction is nearly complete on one of the world's more unusual precision measurement facilities: A 50 meter horizontal smokestack located on NIST's

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