Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Metrology

Optical / photometry / laser metrology

News and Updates

Keyword

Organization

Recognizing NIST Entrepreneurship

February 18, 2020

This week kicks off National Entrepreneurship Week across the country. This event was congressionally chartered in 2006 with a mission to highlight acts of...

A man in safety glasses stands near a rack of equipment in a darkened lab.

Counting Photons Is Now Routine Enough to Need Standards

December 20, 2019

Since the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) built its first superconducting devices for counting photons (the smallest units of light) in...

NIST Study Suggests Universal Method for Measuring Light Power

December 20, 2019

Always on the lookout for better ways to measure all kinds of things, researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have published a...

Square checkerboard with 32 squares on each side surrounded by sunbeam-like lines emanating out from around the board.

NIST’s Light-Sensing Camera May Help Detect Extraterrestrial Life, Dark Matter

November 19, 2019

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have made one of the highest-performance cameras ever composed of sensors that count...

Fly Me (Partway) to the Moon

November 19, 2019

Last week, scientists from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the United...

NIST Goes With the (Slow) Flow: New Technique Could Improve Biotech, Precision Medicine

September 26, 2019

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have developed an optical system that accurately measures the flow of extraordinarily...

Brighter Future for LEDs: NIST Introduces New Lamp Calibration Lab

September 3, 2019

Question: How many measurement scientists does it take to screw in an LED lightbulb? Answer: For researchers at the National Institute of Standards and...

Table covered with lenses and other optical equipment, and a flat screen mounted high in the background showing a yellow squiggly line across the top and a spiky orange line below.

NIST Infrared Frequency Comb Measures Biological Signatures

June 7, 2019

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and collaborators have demonstrated a compact frequency-comb apparatus that rapidly...

NIST Research Sparks New Insights on Laser Welding

April 30, 2019

On its surface, the work is deceptively simple: Shoot a high-power laser beam onto a piece of metal for a fraction of a second and see what happens. But...

Man in goggles standing next to and looking into a large box with open lid showing what appears to be electrical equipment and wiring inside

NIST ‘Astrocomb’ Opens New Horizons for Planet-Hunting Telescope

February 19, 2019

The hunt for Earth-like planets, and perhaps extraterrestrial life, just got more precise, thanks to record-setting starlight measurements made possible by a...

Through a Prism Brightly: A New Way to Measure the Light-Warping Properties of Hyperbolic Metamaterials

June 18, 2018

Manipulating light in a variety of ways—shrinking its wavelength and allowing it to travel freely in one direction while stopping it cold in another--hyperbolic...

A New Way to Measure Energy in Microscopic Machines

June 8, 2018

What drives cells to live and engines to move? It all comes down to a quantity that scientists call “free energy,” essentially the energy that can be extracted...

NIST Puts the Optical Microscope Under the Microscope to Achieve Atomic Accuracy

May 22, 2018

Over the last two decades, scientists have discovered that the optical microscope can be used to detect, track and image objects much smaller than their...

Taking The Heat: New High for NIST’s ‘Light Force’ Laser Power Meter

May 1, 2018

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have been developing a novel way of measuring laser power. Their device, called the...

Laboratory with computer screens mounted on the wall, and a table with instruments

NIST Team Shows Tiny Frequency Combs Are Reliable Measurement Tools

April 25, 2018

In an advance that could shrink many measurement technologies, scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and partners have...

In this illustration, a gas well field has a circle on it. A dual-comb spectrometer at the center sends out laser light which bounces off mirrors, goes through a gas cloud and returns to the spectrometer for analysis.

Mobile ‘Dual-Comb’ Device Significantly Improves Methane Leak Detection

March 22, 2018

Accurately detecting, locating and quantifying leaks of methane, the main component of natural gas and a major fuel source worldwide, is critically important...

NIST Finds Many Protective Glasses Do Not Meet Specs for Shielding Light from Ultrafast Lasers

November 28, 2017

High-power, ultrafast pulsed lasers increasingly supply light for biomedical applications and imaging, materials processing, industrial micromachining and more...

Lights, Camera, Calibrate! Improving Space Cameras with a Better Model for Ultra-Bright Lamps

November 14, 2017

Studio photographers may be familiar with the 1,000-watt quartz halogen lamps known as “FELs.” Scientists use them too—specially calibrated ones, at least—to...

Distant Exoplanets Revealed by Light from Wobbling Stars

October 16, 2017

Ask most folks what they would need to find planets orbiting distant stars, and very few will list a bottle of iodine. Yet that element plays a vital role in...

How Bright is the Moon, Really?

October 13, 2017

The “inconstant moon,” as Shakespeare called it in Romeo and Juliet, is more reliable than his pair of star-crossed lovers might have thought. Now researchers...

Driving the Universal Quantum Bus

September 12, 2017

NIST scientists have achieved a world record in detecting the intensity of an ultra-faint source of light, equaling the capabilities of the deep-space...

Measuring Acceleration with Light

March 29, 2017

Most people have never seen an accelerometer -- a device that measures change in velocity -- and wouldn’t know where to look. Yet accelerometers have become...

Testing the Performance of Semiconductors – with Light

March 28, 2017

Semiconductors are the cornerstone of modern electronics. They’re used in solar cells, light emitting diodes (LEDs), microprocessors in laptops and cell phones...

A Standard for Lighting Color Preference?

March 10, 2017

One of the goals of artificial lighting is to make things look natural. White light can make an otherwise appetizing sandwich look like garbage, if the reds...

Light on the Rebound: ROSI Sees It from Every Angle

February 13, 2017

We see the world in reflection: Nearly all the light that enters our eyes has bounced off something first, bringing with it information about the nature of the...

Was this page helpful?

NIST Headquarters
-Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors for America (CHIPS)
--CHIPS Program Office
---CHIPS Program Headquarters
----CHIPS Program Headquarters - HQ
----Opportunity & Inclusion Group
---External & Government Affairs Division
----External & Government Affairs – HQ
---Investments Division
----Investments Division – HQ
---Operations Office
----Operations Office – HQ
---Risk Management Division
----Risk Management – HQ
---Strategy, Technology & Policy Division
----Strategy, Technology & Policy – HQ
--CHIPS Research & Development Program Office
---CHIPS Research & Development Program Headquarters Division
----CHIPS Research & Development Program Headquarters – HQ
----Integration & Policy Office
----Outreach & Partnerships Office
---External R&D Partnerships Division
----External R&D Partnerships – HQ
----National Advanced Packaging Manufacturing Program Group
----National Semiconductor Technology Center Group
---Industrial Advisory Committee
----Industrial Advisory Committee – HQ
---Semiconductor Manufacturing Institute Division
----Semiconductor Manufacturing Institute – HQ
---Semiconductor Metrology & Characterization Office
----Semiconductor Metrology & Characterization Office – HQ
-Management Resources
--Management Resources
---Associate Director for Management Resources
----Associate Director for Management Resources - HQ
---Business Operations Office
----Business Analytics Group
----Business Operations Office - HQ
----Customer Relationship Management Group
----Process Engineering Office
----Project Management Office
---Emergency Services Office
----Emergency Management, Preparedness and Coordination Group
----Emergency Services - HQ
----Fire Protection Group
----Security Systems and Access Control Group
---Equal Employment Opportunity and Accessibility Office
----Equal Employment Opportunity and Accessibility - HQ
---NIST Research Library and Museum
----NIST Research Library and Museum - HQ
---Fabrication Technology Office
----Fabrication Technology Office - HQ
--Office of Facilities and Property Management
---Boulder Design and Construction Division
----Boulder Design and Construction - HQ
----Facilities Improvement (Boulder) Group
----Reimbursable Work Group
----Facilities Modernization (Boulder) Group
---Gaithersburg Design and Construction Division
----Facilities Improvement (Gaithersburg) Group
----Reimbursable Work (Gaithersburg) Group
----Facilities Modernization (Gaithersburg) Group
----Gaithersburg Design and Construction - HQ
---Gaithersburg Facility Maintenance Division
----Building Management (Gaithersburg) Group
----Operations Engineering Group
----Gaithersburg Facility Maintenance - HQ
----Operations and Maintenance (Gaithersburg) Group
---Facilities Services Division
----Logistics Group
----Materials Management (Gaithersburg) Group
----Site Services Group
----Facilities Services Division - HQ
---Boulder Facilities Maintenance Division
----Site Support Group
----Boulder Facilities Maintenance- HQ
---Office of Facilities and Property Management
----Capital Asset Management and Facilities Planning Group
----OFPM Program Management Office
----Office of Facilities and Property Management - HQ
----Administrative Operations Group
----Safety, Health and Compliance Group
--Office of Acquisition and Agreements Management
---Office of Acquisition and Agreements Management
----Office of Acquisition and Agreements Management - HQ
---Financial Assistance Agreements Management Office
----Financial Assistance Agreements Management Office – HQ
---Acquisition Management Division
----Acquisition Management - HQ
----Acquisition Operations
----Acquisition Operations
----Acquisition Policy and Reimbursable Agreements
--Office of Information Systems Management
---Applications Systems Division
----Applications Systems - HQ
----Business Systems Group
----Custom Applications Development Group
----Data Management & Business Intelligence Group
----Database & Applications Infrastructure Group
----Drupal Development Group
----Identity & Access Management (IDAM) Group
----Institutional Systems Support Group
----OSHE Web Development Group
----Salesforce Development Group
----ServiceNow Development Group
---Research Services Office
----Lab Automation Group
----Research Services Office - HQ
----Scientific Systems Group
---Service Delivery Excellence Office
----Customer Relationship Management Group
----Project Management Group
----Salesforce DevOps Group
----Service Delivery Excellence Office
----ServiceNow DevOps Group
---Information Technology Security & Networking Division
----A&A Assessment Group
----A&A Infrastructure Group
----Assessment & Accreditation (A&A) Program
----Embedded IT Security Officer Group
----Information Technology Security & Networking - HQ
----Network Security Group
----Networking Group
----Privacy Group
----Security Implementation & Incident Response Group
----Telecommunications Group
---Customer Access and Support Division
----CASD Boulder Site Support Group
----Customer Access and Support - HQ
----Desktop Support Group
----Embedded Support Group A
----Embedded Support Group B
----Managed Endpoint for MAC & Mobile Group
----Managed Endpoint Windows Group
----Service Desk Operations Group
---Infrastructure Services Division
----Compute & Storage Group
----Computer Facilities Group
----Infrastructure Services Division - HQ
----Security & Monitoring Group
----Unix Hosting Group
----Windows Hosting Group
---Office of Information Systems Management
----Office of Information Systems Management - HQ
----Service & Project Management Group
---Platform Services Division
----Authentication & Directory Services Group
----Collaboration Services Group
----Enterprise Cloud Communications Group
----Enterprise Continuous Diagnostics and Monitoring Group
----Platform Management Group
----Platform Services Division - HQ
--Office of Human Resources Management
---Learning and Organizational Development Division
----Learning and Organizational Development – HQ
---Talent Acquisition Division
----Talent Acquisition – HQ
---Workforce Analytics and Technology Division
----Workforce Analytics and Technology – HQ
---Human Resources Management Office
----Human Resources Management Office - HQ
---Workforce Programs Division
----Workforce Programs – HQ
--Office of Safety, Health and Environment
---Fire Protection Authority Division
----Fire Protection Authority – HQ
---Office of Safety, Health and Environment
----Office of Safety, Health and Environment - HQ
---Gaithersburg Safety, Health and Environment Division
----Occupational Health Group
----Occupational Safety Group
----Gaithersburg Safety, Health and Environment - HQ
----Fire and Facilities Safety Group
----Environmental Management Group
---Radiation Safety Division
----Radiation Facilities Group
----Program Development and Compliance Group
----Radiation Safety - HQ
---Boulder Safety, Health and Environment Division
----Boulder Safety, Health and Environment - HQ
--Office of Financial Resource Management
---Financial Systems and Reporting Division
----CBS Core Support Group
----CBS Feeder System Support Group
----Financial Systems and Reporting Division - HQ
----Financial Statements Group
----Data Control Group
----Reconciliations Group
---Office of Financial Resource Management
----Office of Financial Resource Management - HQ
----Internal Controls Management & Evaluation Office
----Enterprise Risk Management Office
---Financial Operations Division
----Travel Group
----Agreements Group
----Accounts Receivable Group
----Financial Operations - HQ
----Accounts Payable Group
---Budget Division
----Technical and Extramural Programs Group
----Institutional Support and Facilities Group
----Budget - HQ
----Formulation and Financial Management Group
-Laboratory Programs
--Communications Technology Laboratory
---RF Technology Division
----High-Speed Waveform Metrology Group
----Superconductive Electronics Group
----Guided Wave Electromagnetics Group
----Electromagnetic Fields Group
----RF Technology Division - HQ
---Smart Connected Systems Division
----IoT Devices and Infrastructures Group
----Networked Control Systems Group
----Smart Connected Manufacturing Systems Group
----Smart Grid Group
----Transformational Networks and Services Group
---Spectrum Technology and Research Division
----Applied Systems Metrology Group
----Fiber Sources and Applications Group
----Shared Spectrum Metrology Group
----Spectrum Technology and Research – HQ
---Wireless Networks Division
----Internet Technologies Research Group
----Radio Access and Propagation Metrology Group
----Wireless Networks Division - HQ
----Wireless Systems Innovation and Performance Group
---Public Safety Communications Research Division
----Public Safety Communications Research Division - HQ
----Advanced Communications Research Group
----Network Operations Group
---Communications Technology Laboratory HQ
----Communications Technology Laboratory HQ Gp
----Boulder Laboratory Director Office
--Engineering Laboratory
---Building Energy and Environment Division
----Building Energy and Environment - HQ
----Mechanical Systems and Controls Group
----Indoor Air Quality and Ventilation Group
----HVAC&R Equipment Performance Group
----Heat Transfer and Alternative Energy Systems Group
---Intelligent Systems Division
----Intelligent Systems - HQ
----Manipulation and Mobility Systems Group
----Cognition and Collaboration Systems Group
----Production Systems Group
----Sensing and Perception Systems Group
---Materials and Structural Systems Division
----Earthquake Engineering Group
----Engineering Research Support Group
----Infrastructure Materials Group
----Community Resilience Group
----Materials and Structural Systems - HQ
----Structures Group
---Engineering Laboratory Office
----Applied Economics Office
----Disaster Impact Reduction Office
----Engineering Laboratory - HQ
----Engineering Laboratory Data, Security, Technology Group
---Fire Research Division
----National Fire Research Laboratory Group
----Wildland Urban Interface Fire Group
----Flammability Reduction Group
----Fire Research - HQ
----Engineered Fire Safety Group
----Fire Fighting Technology Group
---Systems Integration Division
----Life Cycle Engineering Group
----Process Engineering Group
----Information Modeling and Testing Group
----Systems Integration - HQ
--Information Technology Laboratory
---Applied Cybersecurity Division
----Applied Cybersecurity - HQ
----Cybersecurity and Privacy Applications Group
----National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence
----NICE
---Computer Security Division
----Computer Security - HQ
----Cryptographic Technology Group
----Secure Systems and Applications Group
----Security Components and Mechanisms Group
----Security Test, Validation and Measurement Group
----Security Engineering and Risk Management Group
---Applied and Computational Mathematics Division
----Mathematical Software Group
----Mathematical Analysis and Modeling Group
----Quantum Information Group
----High Performance Computing and Visualization Group
----Applied and Computational Mathematics - HQ
---Statistical Engineering Division
----Applied and Computational Statistics Group
----Statistical Design, Analysis, and Modeling Group
----Statistical Engineering - HQ
---Software and Systems Division
----Systems Interoperability Group
----Software Quality Group
----Software and Systems - HQ
----Cyber Infrastructure Group
----Information Systems Group
---Information Access Division
----Information Access - HQ
----Image Group
----Multimodal Information Group
----Retrieval Group
----Visualization and Usability Group
---Information Technology Laboratory Office
----Office of Computational Science for Metrology
----Office of Emerging Technologies
----Office of IT Standardization
----Office of Government and Industrial Liaison
----Information Technology Laboratory Office - HQ
----Office of Chief Cybersecurity Advisor
--Laboratory Programs
---Research Data and Computing Office
----Research Data and Computing Office – HQ
---Research Protections Office
----Research Protections Office - HQ
---Research Security and Safeguarding Science Office
----Research Security and Safeguarding Science - HQ
---Standards Coordination Office
----International Standards Policy and Coordination Group
----Standards and Conformity Assessment Services Group
----Standards Coordination Office - HQ
----National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP)
---Special Programs Office
----Special Programs Office-HQ
---Associate Director for Laboratory Programs
----Associate Director for Laboratory Programs - HQ
--Material Measurement Laboratory
---Office of Reference Materials
----Business and Quality Management Group
----Business Application Development, Support, and Security Group
----Sales and Customer Services Group
----Publication and Web Services Group
----Office of Reference Materials - HQ
----Materials and Physical Services Group
---Office of Data and Informatics
----Office of Data and Informatics - HQ
----Data Services Group
----Data Sciences Group
---Biosystems and Biomaterials Division
----Biomarker and Genomic Sciences Group
----Cellular Engineering Group
----Biomaterials Group
----Complex Microbial Systems Group
----Cell Systems Science Group
----Biosystems and Biomaterials Division - HQ
---Chemical Sciences Division
----Biochemical and Exposure Science Group
----Chemical Informatics Group
----Optical Measurements Group
----Chemical Process and Nuclear Measurements Group
----Gas Sensing Metrology Group
----Inorganic Chemical Metrology Group
----Biospecimen Science Group
----Chemical Sciences Division - HQ
----Organic Chemical Metrology Group
---Biomolecular Measurement Division
----Biomolecular Structure and Function Group
----Mass Spectrometry Data Center Group
----Bioprocess Measurements Group
----Bioanalytical Science Group
----Biomolecular Measurement Division - HQ
----Applied Genetics Group
---Applied Chemicals and Materials Division
----Applied Chemicals and Materials Division - HQ
----Thermodynamics Research Center Group
----Thermophysical Properties of Fluids Group
----Nanoscale Reliability Group
----Fluid Characterization Group
----Fatigue and Fracture Group
---Materials Science and Engineering Division
----Thermodynamics and Kinetics Group
----Polymers Processing Group
----Mechanical Performance Group
----Polymers and Complex Fluids Group
----Materials Science and Engineering Division - HQ
----Functional Polymers Group
----Functional Nanostructured Materials Group
---Materials Measurement Science Division
----Security Technologies Group
----Surface and Trace Chemical Analysis Group
----Nanomechanical Properties Group
----Nano Materials Research Group
----Materials Structure and Data Group
----Microscopy and Microanalysis Research Group
----Synchrotron Science Group
----Materials Measurement Science Division - HQ
----Data and AI-Driven Materials Science Group
---Material Measurement Laboratory Office
----The Material Measurement Laboratory Office of Operations Group
----Material Measurement Laboratory - HQ
----Genome-Scale Measurement Group
--NIST Center for Neutron Research
---NIST Center for Neutron Research
----Research Facility Operations Group
----NIST Center for Neutron Research - HQ
----Reactor Operations and Engineering Group
----Neutron-Condensed Matter Science Group
--Physical Measurement Laboratory
---Microsystems and Nanotechnology Division
----Biophysical and Biomedical Measurement Group
----Microsystems and Nanotechnology - HQ
----Nanostructure Fabrication and Measurement Group
----Photonics and Optomechanics Group
---Time and Frequency Division
----Atomic Devices & Instrumentation Group
----Precision Photonic Synthesis Group
----Quantum & Nonlinear Nanophotonics Group
----Ion Storage Group
----Neutral Atom Optical Clocks Group
----Time Realization and Distribution Group
----Phase Noise Metrology Group
----Time and Frequency - HQ
---Quantum Physics Division
----Quantum Physics - HQ
---Radiation Physics Division
----Dosimetry Group
----Radioactivity Group
----Radiation Physics - HQ
----Neutron Physics Group
---Sensor Science Division
----Fundamental Thermodynamics Group
----Sensor Science - HQ
----Temperature & Humidity Group
----Remote Sensing Group
----Optical Radiation Group
----Fluid Metrology Group
----Surface and Interface Metrology Group
---Applied Physics Division
----Advanced Microwave Photonics Group
----Spin Electronics Group
----Applied Physics - HQ
----Faint Photonics Group
----Quantitative Nanostructure Characterization Group
----Molecular and Bio-Photonics Group
----Magnetic Imaging Group
----Quantum Nanophotonics Group
----Sources and Detectors Group
---Quantum Measurement Division
----Quantum Optics Group
----Mass and Force Group
----Quantum Measurement - HQ
----Laser Cooling and Trapping Group
----Fundamental Electrical Measurements Group
----Applied Electrical Metrology Group
----Atomic Spectroscopy Group
---Quantum Sensors Division
----Device Fabrication Group
----Long Wavelength Sensors and Applications Group
----Quantum Calorimeters Group
----Quantum Electronics Group
----Quantum Sensors – HQ
---Nanoscale Device Characterization Division
----Atom Scale Device Group
----Nanoscale Device Characterization Division - HQ
----Alternative Computing Group
----Nanoscale Spectroscopy Group
----Advanced Electronics Group
----Nanoscale Processes and Measurements Group
---Physical Measurement Laboratory Office
----Boulder Microfabrication Facility
----Physical Measurement Laboratory- HQ
----PML Information Office
----Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology
----Office of Weights and Measures
-Innovation & Industry Services
--Office of Advanced Manufacturing
---Microelectronics Manufacturing Division
----Microelectronics Manufacturing – HQ
----Microelectronics Strategy and Enterprise Group
----Semiconductor Coordination Group
----Semiconductor Operations Group
----Workforce and Equity Development Group
---Office of Advanced Manufacturing
----Office of Advanced Manufacturing - HQ
---Partnerships and Outreach Division
----Communications and Marketing Group
----Education and Workforce Development Group
----Partnership Engagement Group
----Partnerships and Outreach – HQ
----Technology Hubs Development Group
---Program Operations Division
----Competitions Group
----Institute and Program Management Group
----Performance Management Group
----Program Operations - HQ
---Strategy and Planning Division
----Analysis and Benchmarking Group
----Strategic Planning Group
----Strategy and Planning – HQ
--Baldrige Performance Excellence Program
---Baldrige Performance Excellence Program Office
----Award Process Group
----Director's Office, Baldrige Performance Excellence Program
----Administrative Support/Electronic Information Group
----Outreach and Communications Group
----Publications Management Group
----Workforce Development Group
--Innovation & Industry Services
---Associate Director for Innovation & Industry Services
----Associate Director for Innovation & Industry Services - HQ
---Technology Partnerships Office
----Technology Partnerships Office - HQ
--Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program
---National Platforms Division
----National Platforms – HQ
----Network Knowledge Management Group
----Supply Chain Group
---National Programs Division
----National Programs- HQ
---Outreach and External Affairs Division
----Outreach and External Affairs – HQ
---Performance Evaluation and Economic Impacts Division
----Performance Evaluation and Economic Impacts - HQ
----Performance Metrics and Evaluation Group
---Network Agreements Management Division
----Network Agreements Management - HQ
----Node B Group
----Node A Group
---Internal Operations Division
----Internal Operations – HQ
---Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program Office
----Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program - HQ
-Director's Office
--Director's Office
---Ombuds Office
----Ombuds Office - HQ
---Public Affairs Office
----Media Liaison Group
----Video and Digital Media Production Group
----Public Affairs Office - HQ
----Internal Communications and Inquiries Group
----Conference Program and Audiovisual Services Group
----Boulder Meetings Support and Services Group
----Web Content Development Group
---Program Coordination Office
----Program Coordination Office - HQ
---Director's Office
----Director's Office - HQ
---Congressional and Legislative Affairs Office
----Congressional and Legislative Affairs Office - HQ
---Management and Organization Office
----Management and Organization Office- HQ
---International and Academic Affairs Office
----International and Academic Affairs Office - HQ