The little lasers inside CD players and computers that read CDs and CD-ROMs are made using
a variety of NIST's measurement services that are critical to the laser's performance and
quality. |
Without little lasers inside CD
players and computers, CDs would be no more than shiny, iridescent plastic disks. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has
several hidden marks on these little lasers. For one thing, the companies that make these
lasers need to measure carefully the device's power output since too little or too much
laser power translates into inaccurate reading of the CD. NIST provides calibration
services by which those companies can maintain the accuracy of their instruments for
measuring their lasers' power output. Another NIST mark resides in the development of
methods to measure the shape of laser beams, which is an important consideration in how
tightly the beams can be focused. The sharpness of this focus determines how densely data
can be written on disks. NIST also develops techniques for monitoring the growth and
measuring the properties of semiconductor layers during the manufacture of lasers. |
