Optical Measurements Group

About

The group conducts basic and applied research in optical measurement science to enable the accurate and precise characterization of light-matter interactions.  Measurands include amount of substance, isotopic composition, transition moments and frequencies, spectroscopic line shape parameters, and thermophysical quantities such as pressure and temperature.  The group develops measurement methods and tools to advance NIST capabilities in areas of national and industrial need, such as characterization of material composition through quantitative chemical sensing, laser spectroscopy, photonics methods, and mass spectrometry. The group disseminates spectroscopic and optical reference data for the quantitative analysis and sensing of a wide variety of systems, such as those related to energy transformation, manufacturing,  and environmental assessment, remote sensing, radiative transfer, and planetary atmospheric modeling; develops experimental methods, models, and standards pertaining to sensing applications and laser metrology; interacts with international standards organizations and other National Metrology Institutes to provide next-generation methods and comparability among international standards to assure the competitiveness of U.S. industry; and provides advice and measurement traceability to other government agencies (federal and state), scientific organizations, and American industry.

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