NIST is developing a new traceable standard for measuring dynamic pressure, such as shock waves from blasts or high-speed industrial events. Currently, no national reference exists to verify the accuracy of commercial or military pressure sensors, making it difficult to compare readings across different vendors. To close this gap, researchers are building a controlled testing facility that uses a shock tube to generate consistent pressure waves. The project is in the proof-of-concept stage, with the team moving beyond traditional mechanical sensors toward a laser-based measurement protocol.
The new method works by directing a laser through the passing pressure wave and tracking how gas molecules absorb the light. Because molecular absorption follows well-understood quantum properties, this creates a highly accurate, built-in reference that reacts faster than physical sensors. Currently recording data in 100 microseconds, the system aims to improve its speed tenfold in the near term. While no fixed release date has been set, the long-term goal is to miniaturize this technology into chip-scale or fiber-optic sensors that could serve as permanent, never-recalibrating standards for both scientific research and commercial use.
Source: https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2015/05/under-construction-traceable-dynamic-pressure-standard
Keywords: dynamic pressure measurement, spectroscopy, traceability
