Title: NIST Launches Online Museum Celebrating Quantum Voltage Standards on Superconductivity Centennial
On April 8, 2011, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) marked the 100th anniversary of the discovery of superconductivity by launching an online museum dedicated to quantum voltage standards. Superconductivity, first observed by Heike Kamerlingh Onnes in 1911, enables certain materials to conduct electricity without resistance when cooled below a critical temperature.
NIST has developed a series of voltage standards based on superconducting Josephson junctions over the past four decades. These standards are essential for calibrating voltmeters used in various applications, from the electric power grid to consumer electronics and military equipment. The online museum showcases the history and development of these standards, providing valuable insights into the research and innovation behind them.
The museum is available online, offering a unique opportunity for researchers, scientists, and the general public to learn about NIST’s significant contributions to the field of superconductivity and quantum voltage standards.
Keywords: superconductivity, voltage, standards, temperature, calibration
