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John H. Lehman (Fed)

John Lehman is a Senior Research Scientist in the Sources and Detectors Group in the Physical Measurement Laboratory at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Recent activities include organizing workshops ranging from laser-based manufacturing, optical-power measurements for gravitational wave detection, and the <Q|School Single Photon Short Course to support the ‘Quantum Workforce’ development. John was awarded the Quantum Electronics and Photonics Ph.D. prize from the Institute of Physics (UK) for his dissertation. Other recent awards include Maria Goeppert Mayer Award from SPIE, the R&D100 award, and US Department of Commerce Gold Medal. He is a Fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation of Germany and Optica. John is past President of the Colorado Science and Engineering Fair, Inc.

The Sources and Detectors Group provides laser power and energy calibration services to the US and other parts of the world – ranging from single photons to 100 kW. Our research is related to new sources and detectors to support US industry, quantum communications, manufacturing, and defense. We undertake device development related to optical and thermal radiation detectors as well as absolute radiometers based on photon momentum and traceability to the kilogram. The Group also leads the world in carbon-nanotube based coatings for a variety of detector platforms for earth and space radiometry.

Selected Patents and Publications

  1. “Evaluating the characteristics of multiwall carbon nanotubes” J. H. Lehman, M. Terrones, E. Mansfield, K. E. Hurst and V. Meunier, Carbon 49 (8), 2581-2602 (2011).
  2. "Inline laser power measurement by photon momentum," J.H. Lehman, K. Rogers, D. Rahn, and P. Williams, Appl. Opt., 1239-1241 (2019).
  3. “Carbon nanotube-based black coatings,” J. Lehman, C. Yung, N. Tomlin, D. Conklin, and M. Stephens, Applied Physics Reviews, 5, 011103 1-17 (2018).
  4. Lehman, J., Tomlin, N., (2016) Radiometer and Method for Use of Same. (U.S. Patent Number 9,291,499).

Publications

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Patents (2018-Present)

Photoacoustic Photon Meter And Process For Measuring Photon Fluence

NIST Inventors
Kimberly A. Briggman , Chris Yung , Jeeseong C. Hwang and John H. Lehman
A photoacoustic photon meter includes: a photoacoustic generative array including carbon nanotubes disposed in a photoacoustic generating pattern, such that the carbon nanotubes: receive photons comprising optical energy, and produce thermal energy from the optical energy; and a superstratum
image for 10,837,828

Non-attenuating Meter for Determining Optical Energy of Laser Light

NIST Inventors
Joshua Hadler , John H. Lehman , Matthew Spidell and Paul A. Williams
A non-attenuating meter determines optical energy of laser light in an absence of optical attenuation of the laser light and includes: a recipient mirror that: receives laser light that propagates in a primary propagation direction; produces profile light; transmits the profile light through the
Optical meter 1 includes ref ector 4 disposed force member 2. Ref ector 4 is conf gured to receive radiation and to communicate a pressure of the radiation to force member 2. Ref ector 4 includes substrate 5 and ref ective surface 8. Force member 2 is conf gured to be displaced in response to receiving the force comprising the pressure, and optical meter 1 is conf gured to measure a power of the radiation, an energy of the radiation, or a combination thereof based on the pressure.

Optical Meter and Use of Same

NIST Inventors
John H. Lehman and Paul A. Williams
With this technology, high-power laser beams from 1-kilowatt (kW) up to 140 kW (and beyond) can be measured accurately using optical radiation pressure. By shining a laser beam on a reflective surface and then measuring how much the surface moves in response to the light’s pressure, researchers can
A disk-shaped device is smaller than the half-dollar coin underneath it.

Smart Mirror

NIST Inventors
Alexandra (Aly) Artusio-Glimpse , John H. Lehman , Michelle Stephens , Nathan A Tomlin and Paul A. Williams
The Smart Mirror is a device that accurately measures the power of laser sources without disturbing the laser beam. This is a promising technology for accurate monitoring of output power in industrial lasers that allows power measurement during the laser’s performance of its routine operations. Such
Clockwise from upper left: bolometer for optical fiber power measurement operates at 4K, bolometer for space-based measurement of solar spectral irradiance, operates at room temperature; bolometer for continuous wave, visible/near infrared laser power measurement, operates at room temperature; bolometer for fast far infrared power calibration, operates at 4K.

NIST Radiometer

NIST Inventors
John H. Lehman and Nathan A Tomlin
This advanced radiometer is composed of a substrate, a radiation absorber placed on the substrate to absorb radiation, a thermal component placed on the substrate to change electrical resistance in response to a change in temperature of the radiometer, and a thermal link to connect the radiometer to
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Created July 30, 2019, Updated May 13, 2024
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