June 2007

EEEL Researchers Deliver Optical Transfer Standard to National Institute of Metrology

The Laser Radiometry Project delivered an optical transfer standard to the Optical and Laser Division of the National Institute of Metrology (NIM), Beijing, P.R. China. Researchers at NIM intend to evaluate this detector in a variety of optical radiation measurement schemes. It is expected that this detector will be used as a transfer standard for optical power measurements and international comparisons. This detector is described in “Optical trap detector for calibration of optical fiber power meters: coupling efficiency,” Appl. Opt., 31, 6531-6536 (2002).

The nature of the work is intended to be collaborative and mutually beneficial to NIST and NIM China. The NIM detector is similar to that produced in the past at NIST for Department of Defense Standards Laboratories as well as other National Measurement Institutes; the detector is not commercially available anywhere in the world. At NIST we have the expertise, materials, and equipment resources to fabricate the detectors in house. A calibration certificate for optical fiber power responsivity at 1310 nm and 1550 nm was provided.

Contact:  John Lehman, phone 303-497-3654