TECHNICAL ACTIVITIES 1998 -
NISTIR 6268
MISSION
ORGANIZATION
CURRENT DIRECTIONS
TECHNICAL HIGHLIGHTS
FUTURE DIRECTIONS
MISSION
The Optical Technology Division of the Physics Laboratory provides high
quality national measurement standards and support services to advance the use
and application of optical technologies spanning the ultraviolet through
microwave spectral regions for use by diverse customers in industry,
government, and academia. In addition, the Division has the institutional
responsibility for maintaining two SI units: the unit for temperature, the
kelvin, above 1234.96 K and the unit of luminous intensity, the candela.
The Division:
- develops, improves, and maintains the national standards for radiation
thermometry, spectroradiometry, photometry, and spectrophotometry;
- disseminates these standards by providing measurement services to
customers requiring calibrations of the highest accuracy and by publishing
descriptions of the advances in techniques in appropriate scientific journals;
- conducts basic, long term theoretical and experimental research in
photophysical and photochemical properties of materials, in radiometric and
spectroscopic techniques and instrumentation, and in application of optical
technologies in scientific and engineering endeavors.
To accomplish these goals in a responsive manner, the Division works closely
with industry, academia, and other government agencies in developing programs
to meet specific optical measurement needs. The Division maintains a broad
range of fundamental and applied research programs, provides leadership in
identifying future needs, and provides calibration services and produces
Standard Reference Materials (SRM) to accommodate the current needs of the
optical technology community. Additionally, the Division staff are active in
professional societies and participates in the activities of the Council for
Optical Radiation Measurements (CORM) and the International Commission on
Illumination (CIE). The Division staff lend their expertise and participate in
documentary standards activity through the American Society for the Testing of
Materials and other documentary standards organizations. As a result of these
interactions, the Division gains valuable insight on identifying the emerging
needs of American industry which must be met to support the growth of quality
manufacturing efforts for the broad range of products that utilize optical
technology in some stage of their production. Meeting these needs assists
American industry in maintaining a competitive posture in the world market.
ORGANIZATION
The Division employs approximately 50 staff members including scientists,
engineers, and support personnel, and maintains a mix of research, development,
and measurement support services. It is organized into five groups and
operates under a project structure that promotes collaborations across group
administrative lines. Each of the projects has an assigned technical leader
who is responsible for planning and accomplishing the technical objectives of
the project. The project's responsibility often crosses group or divisional
lines and requires coordination and priority setting. The project structure is
sufficiently flexible to allow for redirection of resources to accomplish
newly identified program objectives and has proven to be a useful management
tool for assigning responsibility and tracking progress.
Mission |
Organization |
Current Directions |
Technical Highlights |
Future Directions
TECHNICAL ACTIVITIES 1998
- Contents
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Online: April 1999