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Director's Message
This report is intended to provide not only an overview of the NIST Physics Laboratory’s programs, but also a sense of the range, excitement, and relevance of the measurement science pursued in the Divisions. In keeping with the mission of NIST, the Laboratory supports industry, government, and the scientific community with measurement research and services in electronic, optical, and ionizing radiation technologies. Our great strength—and what distinguishes us from an academic or industrial laboratory—is that we are vertically integrated with a balanced portfolio of programs that span the full range from those that address the immediate needs of industry to the more fundamental research that anticipates the future needs of industry, government, and the scientific community. The Laboratory addresses the fundamental triad of standards, measurements, and data in a climate of vigorous and competitive research. Just as the breadth, vigor, and excellence of our research programs provide credibility for our services, so the increasing demands for our services provide a strong and crucial focus for our research programs. The Physics Laboratory has ably demonstrated that mission-oriented research can be just as challenging, creative, and significant as “curiosity driven,” academic research. For example, our Time and Frequency Division’s seven different T&F services are supported by major efforts in the development of optical frequency standards, chip-scale atomic clocks, and next-generation cesium fountain atomic clocks, which are in turn supported by fundamental research on trapped ions and neutral atoms. And just as our work on trapped ion clocks led to our program in quantum information, so our ability to make quantum logic gates led to the development of the quantum logic clock. Similarly, the Optical Technology Division’s work on next-generation light detectors led to the creation of single pairs of photons on demand, which is now an integral part of our program on quantum information. Likewise, the Ionizing Radiation Division is developing highly sensitive neutron detectors for homeland security at the same time that it is using ultracold neutrons to investigate symmetries and parameters of the nuclear weak interaction. Among our many responsibilities is the maintenance of the U.S. national standards for the Système International (SI) base units of time (the second), light (the candela), and noncontact thermometry (the kelvin, especially above 1200 K). We provide the basis for such SI derived units as the hertz (frequency), the becquerel (radioactivity), and the optical watt and the lumen (light output). At the same time, scientists in the Physics Laboratory work with industry to develop new measurement technologies that can be applied to such fields as communications, microelectronics, nanomagnetics, photonics, industrial radiation processing, the environment, health care, transportation, space, energy, security, and defense. Our partners are many and our outreach extensive. JILA, our joint institute with the University of Colorado, is now in its 46th year and still gaining stature with three recent Nobel Laureates. Modeled loosely on JILA, our new Joint Quantum Institute (JQI) with the University of Maryland held its Inaugural Symposium on 27 March 2007, an event notable for its high concentration of both talent and enthusiasm. Following in the same footsteps, our nascent Joint Biophysics Institute with the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute is even now formulating a Memorandum of Understanding. At the same time, the Physics Laboratory was honored by the former NIST Director’s selection of its Electron Physics Group, led by Robert Celotta, to form the core of a new organizational unit, the Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology. The Laboratory places great importance on determining, and focusing on, its highest priority programs. For optical radiation measurements, we rely heavily on the Council for Optical Radiation Measurements (CORM), formed to help define pressing problems and projected national needs in radiometry and photometry. Its aim is to establish a consensus on industrial and academic requirements for physical standards, calibration services, and interlaboratory collaborative programs in the fields of ultraviolet, visible, and infrared measurements. Similarly, the Council on Ionizing Radiation Measurements and Standards (CIRMS) helps to advance and disseminate the physical standards needed for the safe and effective application of ionizing radiation, including x rays, gamma rays, and energetic particles such as electrons, protons, and neutrons. For time and frequency, where the constituency is less well defined, we use decadal surveys and contacts with manufacturers of WWVB clocks and GPS receivers. When we can assist in an important area of measurement or research, we form Cooperative Research and Development Agreements with industry. Laboratory scientists serve with distinction in standards-development committees and readily give of their time to assist the public. Our talent is focused on meeting today’s challenges—in biosystems and health care, quantum technologies, and nanoscale metrology, to name but a few. For health care, the Physics Laboratory conducts research on standards to enable hospitals to use nuclear medicine more effectively. We develop ways to image single biomolecules and to use terahertz radiation for measuring biomolecular processes. The Physics Laboratory is at the forefront of the nascent field of quantum information processing—computing and communications—challenging preconceived notions of computational complexity and communications security. Similarly, the Physics Laboratory has been a leading center for metrology at the nanoscale, even before “nanotechnology” gained prominence. We pioneered electron-spin microscopy, which images magnetic materials, and our unique EUV optics facility supports the electronic industry in its drive to develop advanced lithographic systems for producing ever smaller chips. Over the years, the Physics Laboratory’s contributions have been recognized by awards from industry, government, and the scientific community, including 3 Nobel Prizes, 5 members of the National Academy of Sciences, 1 MacArthur Fellow, and 47 Fellows of the American Physical Society. Some of our recent awards and honors are listed in this report. As you browse this summary of the Physics Laboratory, we expect you will want to learn more. We invite you to visit our web site, http://physics.nist.gov/, and we invite your inquiries and interest in measurement services and collaborations.
Katharine Gebbie |
