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EEEL Researchers Develop Novel Transfer Standard for Optical Fiber Power Measurements |
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John Lehman, Igor Vayshenker, and Chris Cromer, EEEL researchers in the Optoelectronics Division, have teamed up with ILX Lightwave to develop an accurate measurement system for calibrating optical fiber power meters. The measurement system is an optical fiber power meter (OFPM), consisting of a photodiode-based optical detector built by NIST, and an optical multimeter built by ILX Lightwave. The OFPM is a second-generation measurement system designed and built for the Department of Defense (DoD) primary standards laboratories. This system is unique because it is capable of world-class accurate measurements with push-button convenience.
The new OFPM is presently used as a transfer standard by the DoD laboratories as well as a traceable internal check standard for maintaining the quality of various NIST calibration services. In its check standard capacity, the OFPM is employed by the CW Laser Radiometry Project’s laser calibration ensemble. The OFPM will also be used as a standard for an intercomparison with the National Physical Laboratory (NPL)this summer. In addition to serving the needs of the DoD standards labs, the instrumentation will allow NIST to more easily meet requirements of the ISO 17025 quality system requirements being adopted by NIST in the coming year. Over and above the added convenience and traceability, the OFPMs provide uncertainty for laser and optical fiber power measurements that is nearly half of what is achievable from comparable alternatives.
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