Laser Refractometer as a Transfer Standard of the Pascal

Published

July 9, 2016

Author(s)

Patrick Egan, Jack A. Stone Jr., Jacob Edmond Ricker, Jay H. Hendricks

Abstract

We have developed a new low pressure sensor which is based on the measurement of (nitrogen) gas refractivity inside a Fabry-Perot (FP) cavity. We compare pressure determinations via this laser refractometer to that of well-established ultrasonic manometers throughout the range 100} Pa to 100,000 Pa. The refractometer demonstrates 10^-6} precision for p > 50 kPa;---as good or better than the manometer---we argue that a laser refractometer represents a state-of-the-art transfer standard of the pascal. We also claim the refractometer has an accuracy of U(p_FP) = [ (16 mPa)^2 + (11.9 x 10^-6} * p)^2]^1⁄2, as realized through the properties of nitrogen gas.

Proceedings Title

CPEM 2016 Digest

Conference Dates

July 10-15, 2016

Conference Location

Ottawa, CA

Conference Title

Conference on Precision Electromagnetic Measurements (CPEM) 2016

Pub Type

Conferences

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Citation

Egan, P. , Stone Jr., J. , Ricker, J. and Hendricks, J. (2016), Laser Refractometer as a Transfer Standard of the Pascal, CPEM 2016 Digest, Ottawa, CA, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=920182 (Accessed October 30, 2025)