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Physical Measurement Laboratory

Quantum Electromagnetics Division

Our mission is to provide the metrological foundation for strategic, emerging electronic, magnetic, and photonic technologies by developing high-precision measurement devices, systems, standards, and methodologies and disseminating them to address national needs.

Banner image with floating telescope in space and large Purple wavy line in the middle.
Measuring The Cosmos

We interact and collaborate with stakeholders in industry, academia, and other government agencies to ensure that we are responsive to their measurement needs in quantum electrical standards; advanced materials analysis using X-ray sensor arrays; superconducting electronics and nanomagnetics for high-speed, energy-efficient, future generation computing; and quantitative medical diagnostic imaging.

News and Updates

Projects and Programs

coplanar superconducting waveguide

Amplifiers

Ongoing
To process quantum information it is important to have amplifiers with wide bandwidth, high dynamic range, and low noise.
thin-film payload

Cryogenics

Ongoing
Low temperatures suppress noise and make quantum phenomena accessible. As a result, cryogenics play a crucial role in precision measurements.

Awards

Patents

PHOTOACOUSTIC PHOTON METER AND PROCESS FOR MEASURING PHOTON FLUENCE

NIST Inventors
Kimberly A. Briggman , Chris Yung , Jeeseong C. Hwang and John H. Lehman
patent description This invention pertains a concept of a carbon nanotube (CNT)-based integrated sensor which can measure spatial and spectral photon fluence (energy per unit area or volume in the spatial or spectral domain), temperature, and pressure in turbid media and can evaluate performance of

Optical Phantom for Producing a Time-Resolved Diffuse Reflectance Spectrum

NIST Inventors
Jeeseong C. Hwang
Patent Description Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) and NIST jointly developed a concept for a waveform synthesizer which can generate a controlled waveform with several picosecond (ps) time resolution. In a light-diffusing material, characteristics of the time-of-flight distribution (e.g
X-Ray Spectrometer

X-Ray Spectrometer

NIST Inventors
Kevin L. Silverman , Carl D. Reintsema , Galen O'Neil , Luis Miaja Avila , Daniel Swetz , W.Bertrand (Randy) Doriese , Dan Schmidt , Bradley Alpert , Joseph Fowler , Joel Ullom , Ralph Jimenez and Gene C. Hilton
Patent Description Presently, there are no commercial tools for x-ray absorption and emission spectroscopy with picosecond time resolution. Additionally, there are no tabletop tools for x-ray emission spectroscopy with picosecond time resolution. Previously, x-ray emission spectroscopy with this

Contacts

Division Chief

Division Secretary