SUPPORTING U.S. INDUSTRY, GOVERNMENT, AND THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING MEASUREMENT SERVICES AND RESEARCH FOR ELECTRONIC, OPTICAL, AND RADIATION TECHNOLOGY Nisr National Institute of Standards and Technology Technology Administration U.S. Department of Commerce Physics Laboratory at a Glance 1 Director's Message 2 Electron and Optical Physics Division 4 Atomic Physics Division 12 Optical Technology Division 20 Ionizing Radiation Division 28 Time and Frequency Division 36 Quantum Physics Division 44 Office of Electronic Commerce in 52 Scientific and Engineering Data Honors and Awards 54 Physics Laboratory Resources 63 Organizational Chart 64 PL VISION Quantum Physics Division: to provide - Spectral Irradiance and Radiance fundamental understandings of nano-, Responsivity Calibrations Using Preeminent performance in measurement Uniform Sources (SIRCUS) Facility bio-, and quantum optical systems in part- science, technology, and services. nership with the University of Colorado - Synchrotron Ultraviolet Radiation Facility (SURF HI) at JILA. PL MISSION - W.M. Keck Optical Measurement Office of Electronics Commerce in Laboratory The mission of the NIST Physics Laboratory Scientific and Engineering Data: to is to support U.S. industry, government, coordinate and facilitate the electronic dis- Standard time dissemination services: and the scientific community by providing semination of information via the Internet. measurement services and research for - Radio stations WWV, VWWH, electronic, optical, and radiation technology and WWVB PL RESOURCES The Laboratory provides the foundation -Automated Computer Time for metrology of optical and ionizing 199 full-time staff (147 scientific) Service (ACTS) radiation, time and frequency, and with expertise in: - Internet Time Service (ITS) fundamental quantum processes. - Atomic, molecular, and optical physics Measurement and calibration - Computational physics services for: - Condensed matter physics PL GOALS - Color and color temperature - Health physics Physics Laboratory develops goals within - Dosimetry of x rays, gamma rays, - physics electrons its mission and focus areas. These include Medical and health care quality assurance, nanoscale - Nuclear physics - High-precision time measurements and data, and measure- - Biophysics - Neutron sources and neutron dosimetry ments and standards that support home- - Chemistry - Optical wavelength land security. In addition to these over- - Metrology and precision measurement - Oscillator frequency arching focus areas, which are shared by - Phase and amplitude noise other NIST Laboratories, PL has substantial $61 million annual budget - programmatic interest in time and Photodiode spectral responsivity frequency, optical and photonic, and - Photometry (e.g., luminous intensity, Unique facilities, including: environmental and energy metrology luminous flux, illuminance) and applications. -Controlled Background - Radiance temperature Radiometric Facility - Radioactivity sources Electron and Optical Physics Division: - Electron Beam Ion Trap (EBIT) - Spectral radiance and irradiance to support emerging electronic, optical, - Electron Paramagnetic - and nanoscale technologies. Spectral transmittance and reflectance Resonance Facility Division: to determine - EUV Optics Fabrication and Atomic Physics PL WEB SITE Characterization Facility atomic properties and explore their - applications. High-Resolution UV and Optical http://physics.nist. gov/ Spectroscopy Facility Optical Technology Division: to provide - Low-Background Infrared the foundation of optical radiation measure- Radiation Facility ments for our Nation. - Magnetic Microstructure Measurement Facility Ionizing Radiation Division: to provide - Medical-Industrial Radiation Facility (MIRF) the foundation of ionizing radiation - Nanoscale Physics Laboratory measurements for our Nation - Neutron Interferometer and Optics Time and Frequency Division: to Facility (NIOF) provide the foundation of frequency - NIST Beowulf System civil timekeeping for measurements and - Radiopharmaceutical Standardization our Nation. Laboratory 1 DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE We hope this report conveys the excitement and the relevance of the programs within the NIST Physics Laboratory. First and foremost, we support U.S. industry by providing measurement services and research for optical, electronic, and radiation technologies. Our great strength—and what distinguishes us from an academic or industrial laboratory—is that we are vertically integrated. Our world-class measurement services are backed by state-of-the-art engineering efforts to develop new measurement standards, which are in turn supported by frontier, mission-oriented research that anticipates the Nation's future measurement needs. Thus the Laboratory addresses the funda- While our Internet Time Service provides We provide the basis for such SI dehved mental triad of standards, measurements, official U.S. time in a billion daily transac- units as the hertz (frequency), the and data in a climate of vigorous and tions, we are also pursuing research on becquerel (radioactivity), and the optical competitive research. We believe that the trapped ions for the next generation of watt and the lumen (light output). At quality of our service stems in large meas- frequency standards—and quantum-logic the same time, scientists in the Physics ure from the breadth, vigor, and excellence devices. Similarly our Ionizing Radiation Laboratory work with industry to develop of our research programs and that our Division is developing highly sensitive new measurement technologies that can contributions gain credibility because neutron detectors for homeland security be applied to such fields as communica- they are based on the best technical while also using ultracold neutrons to tions, microelectronics, nanomagnetics, judgment available. investigate symmetries and parameters photonics, industrial radiation processing, of the nuclear weak interaction. the environment, health care, transporta- For example, our Time and Frequency tion, space, energy security, and defense. Division is delivering seven different kinds We maintain the U.S. national standards of time and frequency services while also for the Systeme International (SI) base developing optical-frequency atomic units of time (the second), light (the clocks, chip-scale atomic clocks, and a candela), and non-contact thermometry futuristic atomic clock for space flight. (the kelvin, especially above 1200 K). 2 Our partners are many and our outreach We have been recognized for the quality The Physics Laboratory is at the forefront of is extensive. For optical radiation measure- and excellence of our programs and the nascent field of quantum information nnents, we rely heavily on the Council for staff many times over the years, by the processing—computing and communica- Optical Radiation Measurements (CORM), American Physical Society, the Optical tions—challenging preconceived notions formed to help define pressing problems Society of America, and other leading of computational complexity and commu- and projected national needs in radiometry scientific organizations. Members of nications security. Similarly, the Physics and photometry. Its aim is to establish a our staff have been elected to fellowship Laboratory has been a leading center for consensus on industrial and academic in the National Academy of Science, metrology at the nanoscale, since before requirements for physical standards, the American Association for the "nanotechnology" gained prominence. calibration services, and interlaboratory Advancement of Science, the American We pioneered electron-spin microscopy, collaborative programs in the fields of Association of Physicists in Medicine, and which images magnetic materials, and our ultraviolet, visible, and infrared measure- other esteemed bodies. And twice since unique EUV optics facility supports the ments. Similarly, the Council on Ionization 1997, Laboratory staff members have electronic industry in its drive to develop Radiation Measurements and Standards won the Nobel Prize in Physics. Beginning advanced lithographic systems for (CIRMS) helps to advance and disseminate on page 54 of this report, we highlight producing ever smaller chips. the physical standards needed for the some of the awards and honors bestowed As you browse this summary of the safe and effective application of ionization upon us in 2002. Physics Laboratory, we expect you will radiation, including vacuum ultraviolet, Our talent is focused on meeting today's want to learn more. We invite you to visit X ray, gamma ray and energetic particle challenges— in health care, quantum our web site, http://physics.nist.gov/, such as electron, proton, and neutron. technologies, and nanoscale metrology, and we invite your inquiries and interest in When we can assist in an important to name but a few. For health care, the measurement services and collaborations. area of measurement or research, we Physics Laboratory conducts research may form Cooperative Research and on standards to enable hospitals to use Development Agreements with industry nuclear medicine more effectively We groups or individual firms. Laboratory staff develop ways to image single biomole- serve with distinction in standards-develop- Katharine Gebbie cules and to use terahertz-frequency ment committees, and readily give of their Director, Physics Laboratory signals as diagnostic tools. time to assist the public. 3 GOAL: TO SUPPORT EMERGING ELECTRONIC, OPTICAL, AND NANOSCALE