Improved radiometric standards lead to high-accuracy measurements - News Briefs - Brief Article

Journal of Research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Jan, 2002

Improvements in detector-based technology over the past decade have opened a new era in the field of metrology for radiometry and photometry. NIST Technical Note TN-1438 was published to summarize the results of the research and development work carried out by NIST on constructing accurate and wide-dynamic-range radiometers with high-performance detectors for use in the ultraviolet, visible, and infrared wavelength regions. Entitled Optical Radiation Measurement With Selected Detectors and Matched Electronic Circuits Between 200 nm and 20 [micro]m, TN-1438 is a compilation of 11 articles and research papers published by a NIST scientist.

Improved radiometer standards are the key components for several recently realized high-accuracy scales. Using the new radiometers, improved scales have been realized for a variety of important radiometric and photometric measurements, for example, spectral power, irradiance, and radiance responsivity. The improved scales are then transferred to standards used by our customers. The result is lower measurement uncertainty for NIST-traceable optical radiation standards.

CONTACT: George Eppeldauer, (301) 975-2338; george.eppeldauer@nist.gov.