NIST has developed a high-resolution photonic thermometer that can measure temperature variations down to the microkelvin level using an integrated photonic device. The device consists of a nanobeam photonic crystal cavity with improved design and specialized fiber coupling to minimize long-term frequency drift. An interrogation laser locking technique is used to read out the resonance frequency of the sensor, achieving ultra-high sensitivity.
This photonic nanosensor has the potential to replace traditional resistance-based thermometers like Standard Platinum Resistance Thermometers (SPRTs) for temperature dissemination worldwide. The high-quality factor photonic sensors coupled with laser locking techniques demonstrate resolution and repeatability comparable to or better than SPRTs.
The invention shows promise for photonic nanosensors to serve as future standards for the International Temperature Scale of 1990 (ITS-90) and as transfer standards for international measurement comparisons between National Metrology Institutes. These sensors could potentially outperform SPRTs in resolution, repeatability, operation speed, sensor size, and reliability, while being less affected by mechanical shock and thermal stress. This would enable ultra-high resolution thermometry to be more readily available to industry customers.
Source: https://www.nist.gov/patents/high-resolution-photonic-thermometer-article
Keywords: Photonic, Nanosensors, Metrology, Temperature, Resolution
