PTB-Präsentation Engl. Version
Welcome to the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt National Metrology Institute of Germany
- 1 - Metrology: • Science and application of correct measurement • Traceability of results to the SI through national standards • Determination of results with Hermann von Helmholtz verification of uncertainty
PTB: • National Metrology Institute (NMI) • Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi) • 1500 staff members • 125 million € budget
- 2 - Time table of some highlights
1887 Foundation of the Physikalisch-Technischen Reichsanstalt (PTR) Werner von Siemens / Hermann von Helmholtz 1893 Heat radiation laws by Willy Wien → Nobel Prize in 1911 1913 Peak counter for α and β particles by Hans Geiger 1916 Albert Einstein becomes Kurator of PTR 1925 Discovery of element Rhenium by Ida Tacke and Walter Noddak Coincidence method by Walter Bothe → Nobel Prize in 1954 1950 Renaming in Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) 1966 Development of caesium atomics clocks 1980 First measurement of the Quantum Hall resistance together with Klaus von Klitzing 1991 Unification of ASMW and PTB 2002 International commission evaluates PTB
- 3 - Advisory Board of PTB
Supporting PTB and BMWi in important PTB-relevant questions permanent evaluation of actual tasks strategic recommendations
25 honorary members with leading positions in science and economy
Nobel Prize winners in the PTB Advisory Board: Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen, Philipp Lenard, Willy Wien, Max von Laue, Max Planck, Albert Einstein, Gustav Hertz und Walter Bothe presently: Klaus von Klitzing and Theodor Hänsch
- 4 - Site Braunschweig
Divisions: • Mechanics and Acoustics • Electricity Bundesallee 100 • Chemical Physics and 38116 Braunschweig Explosion Protection • Optics • Precision Engineering • Ionizing Radiation • Scientific and Technical Cross- sectional Tasks • Administration Presidential Board German Calibration Service (DKD)
(approx. 1200 staff members)
- 5 - What characterizes the PTB?
PTB is not a typical government agency: 60 % research / development 30 % calibration / services 10 % consulting / cooperation in bodies
PTB is not a typical research institute: per legislation the PTB has to ensure the uniformity of metrology in Germany highest technological requirements make own research programs necessary a lot of tasks are based on legal guidelines
- 6 - Fields of Activity
• Fundamentals of metrology Realization and dissemination of SI-units • Metrology for economy Increasing the efficiency of economy, safeguarding of employment • Metrology for society Promotion of consumer protection, safeguarding of living conditions • International affairs Removal of technical barriers to trade, unification of metrology
- 7 - Fundamentals of metrology Realization and dissemination of the units
• Research Fundamental research in the field of metrology, for instance: tracking back of SI units to fundamental and physical constants utilization of quantum effects for realization of the units • Primary standards Development and provision • Secondary- and transfer standards Dissemination of the units
- 8 - Fundamentals of metrology New definition of „kilogram“
• Unit of mass is still defined in relation to an artifact • The kilogram prototype was defined in 1889
Redefining to physical fundamental constants: “Counting” a very large number of identical atoms in a perfect 1 kg Silicium-28 sphere New definition of Avogadro constant International long term project with different participating departments in PTB
- 9 - Metrology for society Protection of people, nature and environment
• Verification act Type approval and testing of measuring systems • Medicine Dosimetry of ionizing radiation, measurement methods for diagnosis and treatment checks • Explosion protection Physical safety engineering, explosion protection of electrical equipment • Environmental measurement i. e. analysis of pollutants and traces, noise protection
- 10 - Metrology for economy To foster economy and safeguard employment
• Mechanical engineering, automotive, air and space technology Mechanical quantities, coordinates, ... • Electrical industry and IT Electrical systems, sensors, micro-/nanotechnology, ... • Optical industry Characterization of optical systems, ... • Chemical and pharmaceutical industry
Traceability in chemical analytics, ... • Medical industry Instruments, methods, systems, ...
- 11 - International affairs Unifying metrology and removing barriers to trade
• Global metrology Cooperation with all metrology institutes, international comparison measurements • Cooperation in international bodies Meter Convention, EUROMET, legal metrology, standardization bodies • European major projects iMERA, Galileo, ITER • Technical cooperation Assistance to and cooperation with developing and newly industrialized countries
- 12 - Welcome to the 230th PTB Seminar Conductivity and Salinity September 13 / 14, 2007
Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt Braunschweig National Metrology Institute of Germany
- 13 -