NISTIR 5922 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Technology Administration PHYSICS National Institute of Standards and Technology LABORATORY Submitted to the Board on Assessment of Technical Activities 1995-1996 NIST Programs, National Research Council February 4-5, 1997 NATL INST. OF STAND & TECH R.I.C. llil lllQS U31SS^ 'PUBUCATIONS QC 100 .U56 N0.5922 1997 NIST NISTIR 5922 PHYSICS LABORATORY Technical Activities 1995-1996 ! Submitted to the Board on Assessment of NIST Programs, National Research Council February 4-5, 1 997 ! Katharine B. Gebbie, Director William R. Ott, Deputy Director Physics Laboratory j I January 1997 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Michael Kantor, Secretary Technology Administration Mary L Good, Under Secretary for Technology National Institute of Standards and Technology Arati Prabhakar, Director DESCRIPTION OF COVER ILLUSTRATION Magneto-optical trap. Schematic of the apparatus used to cool atoms to almost absolute zero, resulting in the world's first demonstration of Bose-Einstein Condensation. Six laser beams intersect in a glass cell placed between magnetic coils, creating a magneto-optical trap (MOT). The glass cell hangs from a chamber (not shown) containing a vacuum pump and rubidium source. Also not shown are coils for injecting the rf magnetic field for evaporation and the additional laser beams for imaging and optically pumping the trapped atom sample. PHYSICS LABORATORY TECHNICAL ACTIVITIES ABSTRACT i This report surnmarizes research projects, measurement method developments, j calibration and testing services, and data evaluation activities that were carried out i during calendar years 1995 and 1996 in the NIST Physics Laboratory. These | activities fall in the areas of electron and optical physics, atomic physics, optical technology, ionizing radiation measurements, time and frequency measurements, I quantum physics, fundamental constants, and electronic dissemination of scientific | information and data. i Key Words: atomic physics; calibrations: data evaluation: electron physics: fundamental constants: ionizing radiation; measurement methods: optical radiation: quantum physics: standard reference materials: time and frequency Printed pages: 232 PHYSICS LABORATORY I TECHNICAL ACTIVITIES i TABLE OF * CONTENTS ' i j 1 PHYSICS LABORATORY | 5 FUNDAMENTAL CONSTANTS DATA CENTER I 7 OFFICE OF ELECTRONIC COMMERCE . IN SCIENTIFIC AND ENGINEERING DATA | 9 ELECTRON AND OPTICAL PHYSICS DIVISION | 19 ATOMIC PHYSICS DIVISION j 33 OPTICAL TECHNOLOGY DIVISION 47 IONIZING RADIATION DIVISION 63 TIME AND FREQUENCY DIVISION j 79 QUANTUM PHYSICS DIVISION | Appendices | 91 A. PUBLICATIONS 135 B. INVITED TALKS 163 C. TECHNICAL AND PROFESSIONAL COMMITTEE PARTICIPATION AND LEADERSHIP 177 D. SPONSORED WORKSHOPS, CONFERENCES, AND SYMPOSIA 181 E. JOURNAL EDITORSHIPS j 183 F. INDUSTRIAL INTERACTIONS j 195 G. OTHER AGENCY RESEARCH i AND CONSULTING ; 203 H. CALIBRATION SERVICES AND STANDARD REFERENCE MATERIALS j i 221 J. ACRONYMS I Certain commercial equipment, instruments, or materials are identified in this report in order to specify the experimental procedure adequately. Such identification is not intended to imply recommendation or endorsement by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, nor is it intended to imply that the materials or equipment identified are necessarily the best available for the purpose. vi PHYSICS LABORATORY TECHNICAL ACTIVITIES PHYSICS LABORATORY INTRODUCTION This report is a summary of the technical activi- in the Physics Laboratory work with industry ties of the National Institute of Standards and and the other Laboratories of NIST to develop Technology (NIST) Physics Laboratory for the new measurement technologies that can be period January 1995 to December 1996. The applied to areas such as communications, micro- Laboratory is one of eight major technical vmits electronics, magnetics, photonics, lighting, of NIST. industrial radiation processing, the environment, The mission of the Physics Laboratory is to health care, transportation, defense, energy, and support U.S. industry by providing the best space. Cooperative research and development possible foundation for metrology of optical and agreements, industrial research associates, ionizing radiation, time and frequency, and committee participation, and consultations are fundamental quantum processes. The Physics all powerful mechanisms for transferring mea- Laboratory carries out this mission by conduct- surement capability to the private sector. ing long-term research in measurement science; The Physics Laboratory has identified four developing new physical standards, measure- strategic areas where it beheves its experience ment methods, and critically compiled scientific and distinctive skills can contribute best to and engineering reference data; promulgating industrial and critical national needs, by provid- these standards, methods, and data by provid- ing measurement methods, instrumentation, ing calibration measurement services, standard standards, and data for: reference materials, and electronic information electronic and magnetic devices - to develop services, and by publishing research results, innovative measurement methods and tech- holding conferences, and conducting workshops; niques of use to the electronics industry for participating in quality-assurance programs; and device characterization and electronic informa- collaborating with industry, universities, and tion and communication; other agencies of government. Physics Labora- tory maintains the U.S. national standards for optical technology - to provide the national the Systeme International (SI) base units of the basis for optical radiation measurement and to second, the candela, and the kelvin (above develop optical measurement systems for indus- 1200 K) as well as such SI derived units as the trial and environmental needs; watt, hertz, the becquerel, the optical and the radiation applications and control - to support lumen. the innovative, effective, and safe use of radia- considered Science and technology, once tion by providing standards and measurement separate and sequential, are now becoming quality assurance services, by developing and with this trend, increasingly merged. Consistent evaluating new radiation measurement methods, the Physics Laboratory is vertically integrated, and by providing critical data; spanning the fuU range of programs from tests of fundamental physical quantities - to improve fundamental postulates of physics through definitions and realizations of base cind derived generic technology to the more immediate needs SI units and to pursue opportunities for new of industry and commerce. Its constituencies determinations of fundamental physical con- are broadly distributed throughout industry, academia, and government, and include the stants. other Laboratories of NIST. Its scope spans The Laboratory’s focus on atomic, molec- technologies based upon electronic, optical, and ular, optical, solid state, and ionizing radiation radiation-induced effects. physics reflects the continuing importance of To tighten the relation between the per- these disciplines in developing new measure- formers of directed research and the industrial ment technology to address the needs of U.S. developers of advanced technologies, scientists industry. 1 PHYSICS LABORATORY PHYSICS LABORATORY OFFICE The Laboratory establishes spectroscopic the NIST synchrotron ultraviolet radiation methods and standards for microwave, infrared, facility (SURF II), two scanning tunneling micro- visible, ultraviolet, x-ray, gamma-ray, and par- scopes, and two scanning electron microscopes ticle radiation; investigates the structure and with unique magnetic imaging capabihties. dynamics of atoms and molecules, singly and in Atomic Physics Division. Carries out theoret- aggregate: and applies these results for practical ical and experimental research into the spectro- purposes. scopic and radiative properties of atoms, mole- The Laboratory generates, evaluates, and cules, and ions to provide measurement and compiles atomic, molecular, optical, and ionizing data support for national needs in such areas as radiation data in response to national needs; fusion plasma diagnostics, processing of mate- develops and operates major radiation sources as rials by plasmas, spectrochemistry, illumination user facUities; and maintains appropriate collab- technology, and laser development; carries out orations with other technical programs in NIST, high accuracy determinations of optical, ultra- the nation, and other institutions throughout the violet, x-ray, and gamma-ray transition energies; world. It conducts a major cooperative research develops atomic radiation sources as radiometric program with the University of Colorado through and wavelength standards to meet national JILA. measurement needs; studies the physics of laser Whatever the criteria of success, the Labora- cooling and electromagnetic trapping of neutral tory is among the world’s leaders in basic and atoms and ions; develops new measurement apphed metrology. Its most productive scientists techniques and methods for analyzing spectro- appreciate an environment where they can con scopic data, for measuring plasma properties tribute to important practical programs as well such as temperature and densities, and for as to strategic, fundamental research. The determining fundamental physical constants; Laboratory’s great strengths include not only its carries out theoretical and experimental research multiple contributions to basic