NIST scientists are developing groundbreaking quantum-based technologies to revolutionize the measurement of temperature, pressure, and vacuum using light. Traditional methods for measuring these properties have limitations in both instrument design and accuracy. NIST’s innovative approach involves observing how these thermodynamic properties affect the properties of light, such as wavelength and refractive index, to make highly accurate measurements.
The new quantum-based methods include:
1. Temperature measurement by tracking how heat changes the wavelengths of light propagating through micro-channels in the material under test
2. Pressure measurement by monitoring how different gas densities alter the refractive index of a light beam passing through the gas
3. Vacuum measurement by detecting the loss rate of trapped atoms, measured by the remaining trapped fluorescent atoms emitting light
These advanced measurement techniques offer greater accuracy and precision compared to current methods, with the potential to significantly impact various industries and fields that rely on precise thermodynamic measurements.
Source: https://www.nist.gov/noac/technology/thermodynamics
Keywords: Metrology, Quantum, Thermodynamic, Properties, Vacuum
