The groups in the Optical Technology Division cooperative in achieving the
objectives of the Division’s strategic plan by arranging their activities into
programs and projects often with participation from several groups. The project
structure focuses talent and resources to effectively meet the needs of NIST
and its customers, and provides a convenient structure to assess program
performance. When appropriate, programs are redirect to meet new national needs
in optical technology. Presently, the Division’s activities fall in to the
following 5 program areas:
- Development and dissemination of absolute radiometric, photometric, and
colorimetric standards;
- Development of optical radiation measurements and standards to meet
national needs in defense and homeland security, climate change research, and
manufacturing;
- Advancement of the experimental and theoretical knowledge of optical
properties of materials from the ultraviolet to the far-infrared to aid the
development of improved optical measurements;
- Development of advanced optical techniques with application to NIST
Strategic Focus Areas of Homeland Security, Healthcare, and Nanotechnology, and
other national priority areas;
- Participation in national and international standards activities and
organizations to ensure the quality and world-wide acceptance of U.S. optical
radiation measurements and standards thus enhancing U.S. productivity, trade,
and quality of life.
Through these programs, the Division meets the needs of the lighting, imaging,
automotive, electronics, health and medical, biotechnology, nanotechnology,
energy, chemical, and other industries dependent upon optical measurements. The
Division also provides measurement support for National needs in solar and
environmental monitoring, for health and safety concerns, and for the aerospace
and defense industries. The Division has advanced programs in laser
spectroscopy, terahertz and infrared spectroscopy, near-field scanning
microscopy, and synchrotron radiation to provide new insight into physical,
chemical and biological phenomena and to provide new tools for measurement
needs in industry and government. The Division has a responsibility to provide
measurement and standards support services to other government agencies for the
efficient and effective pursuit of their own missions. To this end, the
Division develops collaborative projects with appropriate participation from
other agencies such as NASA, NOAA and DOD, and as a result, develops facilities
for calibration and other types of measurement support required by these
agencies' particular programs.
Vision, Values, Mission and Goals
Vision: The Optical Technology Division will be the world leader
in providing definitive measurements, data, and research for optical radiation
reliant technologies crucial to the U.S. Economy and for the benefit of society.
Values: The Optical Technology Division embraces the core NIST
values and best practices and, additionally, strives to sustain the highest
quality efforts in serving its customers to promote U.S. competitiveness.
Mission: The Optical Technology Division, by advancing knowledge
and expertise in targeted areas of optical technology, will provide the highest
quality services, technical leadership, and measurement infrastructure to
promote the U.S. Economy, support the public welfare, and underpin the optical
technology necessary for Homeland and National defense.
Strategic Goals:
- Perform research and development to advance measurement science to maintain
the Nation's primary SI standards for the candela and kelvin and associated
photometric, colorimetric, pyrometric, and spectral radiometric quantities.
- Improve the accuracy, range, and utility of optical technologies by
conducting long-term strategically directed research in optical, photophysical,
and photochemical properties of materials, in radiometric and spectroscopic
techniques and instrumentation, and in applications of optical technologies in
all pertinent aspects of the economy.
- Build and maintain state-of-the-art measurement infrastructure, spanning
the ultraviolet through the microwave spectral region, to meet the emerging
needs of Federal and Local Government for defense and civilian requirements and
to meet the needs of the U.S. technical and industrial establishment.
- Support international efforts through the Consultative Committee on
Photometry and Radiometry (CCPR) by participating in appropriate
intercomparisons designed to secure worldwide acceptance of U.S. products and
practices that are reliant upon NIST measurements.
- Maintain a management structure and environment responsive to and
accommodating of customer and institutional needs and which enable, develops,
and elicits the full scientific and technical potential of each staff member.
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