Office of Electronic Commerce in Scientific and Engineering Data

Technical Highlights

• Physics Laboratory Information on the WWW. The ECSED office provides Physics Laboratory information and data over the WWW to U.S. industry and the general public. We began providing information to the public in June 1994. By the end of fiscal year 1997, we were supplying 100,000 PL documents each month to users outside of NIST (fully half from our databases). The rate of use continues to increase rapidly.

  A wide range of information is provided by PL on the WWW. It ranges from staff and organization information to PL technical activities, publication lists, research facilities, news items, physical reference data, and bibliographic information about physical reference data. New information is added regularly. We develop programs to provide this information and innovations to overcome the limitations of current browsers.

  For internet users who want to access the PL WWW server, the Internet URL for the PL web server is http://physics.nist.gov/.
• X-Ray Database Developed for Physics Laboratory Web Server. The ECSED office has developed a web version of NIST Standard Reference Database 66: Theoretical Form Factor, Attenuation, and Scattering Tabulation for Z = 1 - 92 from E = 1 - 10 eV to E = 0.4 - 1.0 MeV by C. T. Chantler. It provides information developed for scientists and technologists working in X-ray diffraction and related fields. It presents over the web, in graphical and tabular form, for each atom, the total attenuation coefficient, the photoelectric cross section, the sum of coherent and incoherent scattering, and self-consistent values of the atomic scattering factors f₁ and f₂. Those using a web browser with a frames feature can have both tabular and graphical information delivered on the same screen. Others receive the same information sequentially.

• Database of Electron-Impact Ionization Cross Sections Developed for the WWW. The ECSED office has developed a WWW database that provides total ionization cross sections of various molecules by electron impact. The cross sections were calculated by Y.-K. Kim (of the Atomic Physics Division) and M.E. Rudd using the Binary-Encounter-Bethe (BEB) model that combines the Mott cross section with the high-T behavior of the Bethe cross section. In addition it supplies selected experimental data sets. These data are needed in a wide range of applications, such as modeling plasmas used in the processing of semiconductors, designing mercury-free fluorescent lamps, assessing the efficiency of ion gauges, normalizing mass spectrometer output, diagnosing plasmas in magnetic fusion devices, and modeling radiation effects on materials. Currently data are provided for two atoms and 41 industrially important molecules. More atoms, molecules, and ions will be added later.

• Fundamental Constants Bibliographic Database Developed for the WWW. A bibliographic database of the most important experimental and theoretical publications in the field of the fundamental constants has been developed for the web in collaboration with PL’s Fundamental Constants Data Center. This database, containing almost 2000 entries, may be searched by combinations of desired fundamental constant, word in publication title, author, and/ or year of publication. Use of this database can lead researchers to information about the most highly advanced experimental techniques used in determining the constants.

• Wide Range of Databases Developed for WWW Dissemination. This Office has developed and makes available over the web a wide range of physical reference databases. In addition to the three mentioned above we provide databases of the Fundamental Physical Constants, Atomic Spectroscopic Information, Spectrum of a Platinum Lamp, Bibliographic Database on Atomic Transition Probabilities, Wavenumber Tables for Calibration of Infrared Spectrometers, Frequencies for Interstellar Molecular Microwave Transitions, X-Ray Attenuation and Absorption for Materials of Dosimetric Interest, Bibliography of Photon Attenuation Measurements and Radionuclide Half-Life Measurements Made at NIST. Each of these databases was developed for the WWW in close collaboration with the compilers of the information and has an interface appropriate to its intended users. Databases are improved and information is added to them on an ongoing basis.

• Electronic Commerce in Scientific and Engineering Data. A draft of the report of the industry/government team was circulated to all participants. The revised report is available on the NIPDE (now the US PRO) web server. We have prepared a draft of the ECSED Testbed - a web page encompassing updated information from this report as well as links to activities supporting or demonstrating ECSED functions. After appropriate reviews are completed, it will be made available on the WWW. This web page will help technical database developers keep current on developments in the electronic dissemination of information.