NIST only participates in the February and August reviews.
name |
email |
phone |
|
Christopher L. Holloway |
holloway@boulder.nist.gov |
303.497.6184 |
Atom-based sensors have generated a lot of attention in the past several years because of their many advantages over other conventional technologies. Measurement standards have evolved towards atom-based measurements over the last couple decades; most notably length (m), frequency (Hz), and time (s) standards. Recently, there has been great interest in extending this to magnetic and electric (E) field sensors. NIST and other groups have made great progress in the development of Rydberg atom-based radio-frequency (RF) E-field sensors. The Rydberg atom-based sensors now have the capability of measuring amplitude, polarization, and phase of the RF field. As such, various applications are beginning to emerge. These include, SI-traceable E-field probes, power-sensors, voltage standards, receivers for communication signals (AM/FM modulated and digital phase modulation signals), and even recording musical instruments. NIST is looking to extend Rydberg atom-based sensors into the larger incoherent domain and measure blackbody radiation (BBR). BBR sources are calculable radiation sources that are used in radiometry, temperature dissemination, and remote sensing. A calibration-free Rydberg-atom detector could allow for BBR source calibration and new ways of thermometry. The goal of this project is to investigate Rydberg atom-based BRR detectors.
Rydberg atoms; atom sensors; BBR; blackbody radiation; traceable measurements; quantum sensor; thermometry
Find and choose an agency to see details and to explore individual opportunities.