The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) provides critical infrared blackbody calibrations for missile defense test facilities through its Low Background Infrared (LBIR) facility. These calibrations ensure all test facilities have consistent, traceable measurements for their infrared test chambers.
The NIST LBIR facility uses two specialized chambers cooled to 20 K with closed cycle helium gas to simulate space-like background conditions. Absolute cryogenic radiometers (ACRs) measure absolute optical power, while precise calculations determine radiance temperatures based on the Stefan-Boltzmann law.
The facility has been providing these critical calibrations for 25 years, serving customers like Raytheon Missiles and Defense, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, and Arnold Engineering Development Complex. The calibrations are essential for maintaining consistent, accurate measurements across missile defense test facilities.
Source: https://www.nist.gov/programs-projects/infrared-cryogenic-blackbody-broadband-calibration
Keywords: NIST, Blackbody, Calibration, Radiometric
