An Assessment of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Physics Laboratory Fiscal Year 2010 (2010) / Chapter Skim
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5 Optical Technology Division
5 Optical Technology Division
Pages 33-42
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From page 33... ...
to disseminate optical radiation measurement technology and standards to industry, government, and academia. SCOPE The Optical Technology Division, located at NIST's Gaithersburg, Maryland, campus, has 42 scientists/engineers, 81 NIST associates, and 6 administrative support staff, as of January 2010.
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From page 34... ...
Optical Properties and Infrared Technology Group The Optical Properties and Infrared Technology Group establishes and disseminates primary measurement scales for the transmittance and reflectance of materials in the IR spectral region; it studies optical properties of materials in the near-, mid-, and far-IR spectral regions; it provides blackbody calibrations, research and development of accurate, high-precision radiometric measurements in low and ambient thermal background environments; and it develops and calibrates transfer standard radiometers to be used for on-site NIST-traceable measurements of missile defense sensor test chambers. The LBIR radiometry system is used for the latter activity.
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From page 35... ...
Group members are also involved in spectroscopic studies in the terahertz spectral region. STAFFING There are 42 full-time technical staff members in the Optical Technology Division; 3 more permanent staff will be added by the end of 2010.
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. Assessment Relative to Technical Merit The Optical Technology Division maintains a long-term core commitment to high-accuracy measurements in radiometry, photometry, and spectroradiometry.
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From page 37... ...
A core activity of the Optical Technology Division is the development of technical standards for industries relying on optical technologies. The division also has research programs to develop optical and spectroscopic tools for the improved understanding of processes required to support evolving technologies in industries such as the semiconductor, solid-state lighting, biotechnology, and health science industries.
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From page 38... ...
The existence of a vibrant and dynamic strategic planning process can be seen in the development of the division's 2010 strategic plan. Additionally, the development of the Solid State Lighting, Vision Science, and Greenhouse Gas measurement efforts demonstrate agility in addressing national priorities.
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From page 39... ...
One particularly promising new project within the biophysics focus is a NIST Director's Innovations in Measurement Science program in optical medical imaging.
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From page 40... ...
Additional Considerations The projects and sustained activities in the Optical Technology Division are well publicized and articulated in terms of the participation of the personnel -- for example, in technical conferences, workshops, and short courses -- and in terms of publications. In general, the division leadership was responsive to the findings expressed in the 2008 NRC panel report.
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From page 41... ...
The Optical Technology Division has outstanding measurement capabilities in the terahertz spectral region, originally based on traditional Fourier transform techniques, more recently developing forefront capabilities for measurements using laser sources, including both frequency-domain and time-domain approaches. The suite of measurement capabilities is outstanding.
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From page 42... ...
The Traveling SIRCUS version can support a wide range of activities, including system calibration for satellite sensors, including calibration of total solar irradiance sensors. The staff reported that the Traveling SIRCUS and several members of staff were involved in the calibration of the NPOESS Visible Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite instrument, a very important sensor that has the potential to provide valuable data for the study of climate change, if properly calibrated.
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