The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has developed a new research project called the Platform for Realizing Integrated Molecule Experiments (PRIME). This project aims to establish primary, quantum-based realizations for the radiometric watt and kelvin for temperatures between 200 K and 600 K.
PRIME uses blackbodies, which are incoherent electromagnetic radiation sources, to directly measure the blackbody electric field and characterize these widely used instruments. Blackbodies realize a clear relationship between radiated power and temperature through Planck’s law, making them a reliable instrument for temperature and power calibrations. However, they are afflicted with a plethora of systematics, such as non-ideal emissivity, propagation loss, temperature gradients, and geometric effects, which can impact their accuracy.
To overcome these limitations, PRIME employs sensitive, identical quantum systems, such as polar molecules, to directly measure the blackbody electric field. By using laser cooling and trapping techniques, molecules can be cooled to incredibly low temperatures, allowing researchers to study their interactions with electromagnetic radiation with exquisite precision. This approach enables the direct measurement of the blackbody electric field, providing a quantum realization of the Kelvin traceable to the second.
PRIME has already made significant progress in the development of molecule laser cooling techniques and the use of frequency chirped MOTs. The project’s novel approach to studying blackbody radiation has the potential to revolutionize the field of radiometry and thermometry, enabling more accurate and precise measurements of temperature and power.
Source: https://www.nist.gov/programs-projects/platform-realizing-integrated-molecule-experiments-prime
Keywords: Radiometry, Blackbody, Quantum Realization, Electromagnetic Radiation, Molecule Laser Cooling
