The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is developing advanced electro-mechanical measurement systems through its Precision Electro-Mechanical Experiments (PREME) program. These systems aim to provide precise measurements of fundamental physical quantities like mass, voltage, resistance, and current, traceable to the new International System of Units (SI).
Key developments include:
1. The NIST-4 Kibble balance, which can measure mass with unprecedented precision by comparing electrical and mechanical power. This will help realize the kilogram in terms of the Planck constant, a key SI base unit.
2. Quantum Electro-Mechanical Metrology (QEMMs) that use graphene quantum Hall resistance standards to provide traceable electrical measurements, complementing the Kibble balance for mass dissemination.
3. A Kibble balance operating in air at the gram level (KIBB-g1) with relative accuracies at a few parts in 10^6, demonstrating the feasibility of portable mass measurement systems.
4. Exploration of direct torque measurement using a free-spinning electromagnet, potentially providing a new SI traceable torque standard.
5. Development of a high-power laser power measurement system that measures photon pressure force on a mirror, providing an alternative to traditional absorption-based methods.
These advancements will improve the precision and reliability of fundamental measurements, supporting scientific research, industry standards, and technological innovation. The PREME program is expected to continue advancing these technologies, with potential applications in metrology, physics, and engineering.
Source: https://www.nist.gov/programs-projects/precision-electro-mechanical-experiments-preme
Keywords: Metrology, Electrostatic, Gravitation, Torque, Planck
