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Physics Laboratory Brochure
U.S. Department of Commerce,
Technology Administration
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Introduction
In keeping with NIST's mission to promote U.S. economic growth, the Physics
Laboratory works with industry to provide measurement services and research for
developing electronic, optical, and radiation technologies.
Our programs span the full range from those that respond to immediate needs of
industry to those focused on the longer-term, high risk research that
anticipates future industrial challenges. We believe that the quality of our
service stems in large measure from the breadth, vigor, and excellence of our
research programs; our contributions are credible only to the extent that they
are based on the best scientific and technical judgment available. Thus we
address the fundamental triad of standards, measurements, and data in an
environment of vigorous and competitive research focused on gaining knowledge
for potential application.
Science and technology, once considered separate and sequential, are now
becoming increasingly merged. To tighten the relation between the performers of
fundamental research and the industrial developers of advanced technologies,
scientists in the Physics Laboratory work with industry and the other
laboratories of NIST to develop new technologies in areas such as
communications, defense, energy, environment, space, health, microelectronics,
and transportation. The excitement in the Laboratory is that it is often the
very same scientists who are world leaders in the longer-term fundamental
research - measuring the properties of nanoscale devices, developing novel
measurement methods for determining the structure and function of biological
systems, and exploring the mysteries of quantum physics - who are
also the most eager to see their efforts amplified by commercializing their
ideas and discoveries.
Cooperative research and development agreements, industrial research associates,
workshops, publications, and comprehensive tabulations of reference data are all
powerful mechanisms for transferring our measurement capability to the private
sector.
To ensure that industry derives maximum benefit from our resources, we focus our
programs of research and services in four strategic areas:
- Electronic and magnetic devices - where we develop innovative
measurement methods for device characterization and electronic information and
communication, including magnetic microscopy, direct write lithography, atomic
frequency standards, synchronization techniques, and information networking
- Optical technology - where we provide the national basis for optical
radiation measurement and develop optical measurement systems for industrial and
environmental applications including length measurement, remote sensing, data
transmission, and atom optics
- Radiation applications and control - where we support the innovative,
effective, and safe use of radiation by developing standards, measurement
methods, and data critical for health care technology, environmental technology,
industrial radiation processing, nondestructive evaluation, and the nuclear
power industry
- Fundamental physical quantities - where we strive to improve the
definitions and physical realizations of base and derived SI units and pursue
opportunities for new determinations of fundamental constants
The following pages provide a guide to the Physics Laboratory at NIST. We
welcome your interest in our programs and look forward to interacting with you
in the future.
- Katharine B. Gebbie, Director
- Physics Laboratory
Inquiries or comments:
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Online: November 1994 - Last update: July 2004
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