Spectral irradiance scale realization and uncertainty analysis based on a 14 mm diameter WC-C fixed point blackbody from 250 nm to 2500 nm

Spectral irradiance scale in the wavelength range from 250 nm to 2500 nm was realized at National Institute of Metrology (NIM) on the basis of a large area tungsten carbide–carbon (WC-C) high temperature fixed point blackbody, which is composed of a 14 mm diameter WC-C fixed point cell and a variable temperature blackbody BB3500MP as a furnace. A series of 1000 W FEL tungsten halogen lamps were used as transfer standards. The new spectral irradiance scale was compared with the scale based on a variable-temperature blackbody BB3500M, and the divergence between these two methods varied from -0.66% to 0.79% from 280 nm to 2100 nm. The measurement uncertainty of spectral irradiance scale based on fixed-point blackbody was analyzed, and the expanded uncertainty was estimated as 3.9% at 250 nm, 1.4% at 280 nm, 0.43 % at 400 nm, 0.27% at 800 nm, 0.25% at 1000 nm, 0.62% at 1500 nm, 0.76% at 2000 nm, and 2.4% at 2500 nm respectively. In the range from 300 nm to 1000 nm the fixed-point scale was improved obviously: the uncertainty decreased by more than 25% compared to the uncertainty based on the variable temperature blackbody. Below 300 nm, the uncertainty became higher because the signal to noise ratio was poor. Above 1100 nm, the contribution of temperature measurement to the uncertainty of spectral irradiance decreases, therefore the uncertainties of two methods are almost at the same level. The fixed-point blackbody was also used to realize the correlated colour temperature and distribution temperature of a tungsten filament lamp, the deviation from the variable temperature blackbody method was -0.5 K and -2.9 K, respectively.

Achievement of 0.005 % combined transfer uncertainties in the NIST detector calibration facility

Improvements in a lamp-monochromator-based facility at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the Visible near-infrared Spectral Comparator Facility (VisSCF) which is used to calibrate optical detectors for spectral radiant power responsivity from 300 nm to 1100 nm, are described. These changes include extending the VisSCF operational range down to 300 nm from 350 nm, thereby fully covering the ultraviolet-A (UVA) spectral region and partially covering the UVB range. These improvements have lowered the magnitudes of most of the components in the uncertainty budget and have led to combined 0.005 % transfer (k=1) uncertainties in the spectral power responsivity calibrations over most of the spectral range. Redevelopment of the uncertainty budget results in total expanded uncertainties of spectral responsivities of less than 0.1 % (k=2) over the spectral range from 380 nm to 980 nm, with the greatest uncertainty term coming from the calibrations of the transfer standards.

News from the BIPM laboratories—2021

In order to fulfil its mission to ensure and promote the global comparability of measurements, the BIPM operates laboratories in the fields of physical metrology, time, ionizing radiation and chemistry. These laboratories act as centres for scientific and technical collaboration between Member States providing capabilities for international measurement comparisons on a shared cost basis. They coordinate international comparisons of national measurement standards agreed to be of the highest priority, and they establish and maintain appropriate reference standards for use as the basis of key international comparisons at the highest level and provide selected calibrations from them.

The irony of the magnet system for Kibble balances - a review

The magnet system is an essential component of the Kibble balance, a device that is used to realize the unit of mass. It is the source of the magnetic flux, and its importance is captured in the geometric factor $Bl$. Ironically, the $Bl$ factor cancels out and does not appear in the final Kibble equation. Nevertheless, care must be taken to design and build the magnet system because the cancellation is perfect only if the $Bl$ is the same in both modes: the weighing and velocity mode. This review provides the knowledge necessary to build a magnetic circuit for the Kibble balance. In addition, this article discusses the design considerations, parameter optimizations, practical adjustments to the finished product, and an assessment of systematic uncertainties associated with the magnet system.

Effects of rotation errors on goniometric measurements

Goniometric measurements are essential for the determination of many optical quantities, and quantifying the effects of errors in the rotation axes on these quantities is a complex task. In this paper, we show how a measurement model for a four-axis goniometric system can be developed to allow the effects of alignment and rotation errors to be included in the uncertainty of the measurement. We use three different computational methods to propagate the uncertainties due to several error sources through the model to the rotation angles and then to the measurement of bidirectional reflectance and integrated diffuse reflectance, a task that would otherwise be intractable. While all three methods give the same result, the GTC Python package is the simplest and intrinsically provides a full uncertainty budget, including all correlations between measurement parameters. We then demonstrate how the development of a measurement model and the use of GTC has improved our understanding of the system. As a consequence, taking advantage of negative correlations between measurements in different geometries allows us to minimise the total uncertainty in integrated diffuse reflectance, lowering the standard uncertainty from 0.0029 to 0.0015.

Differential sampling of AC waveforms based on a programmable Josephson voltage standard using a high-precision sampler

A high-precision sampler, Fluke 8588A multimeter in the sampling mode, was utilised to perform differential sampling of AC waveforms with a programmable Josephson voltage standard. The systematic error on the differential sampling, induced by the inherent voltage-response characteristics and built-in low-pass filter of the sampler, was estimated. Experimental results and numerical simulations revealed that the sampler could be used for reliable differential sampling of AC waveforms at frequencies up to several kilohertz, with an appropriate number of the voltage steps per the waveform period, when the input bandwidth was set to 3 MHz. In addition, the sampler was compared to an integrating sampler, Keysight 3458A, now widely used for differential sampling. At 62.5 Hz, a key frequency in the future on-site key comparison of the differential sampling on AC voltage, the difference in RMS-amplitude values obtained by the differential sampling using the two different samplers is approximately 150 nV/V due to the systematic error caused by the limited bandwidth of 150~kHz for the integrating sampler.

APMP key comparison report of air kerma for 137Cs (APMP.RI(I)-K5)

Main text The APMP/TCRI Dosimetry Working Group performed the APMP.RI(I)-K5 key comparison of the air kerma for 137Cs in 2014. Five national metrology institutes (NMIs) took part in the comparison. Two commercial ionization chambers were used as transfer instruments and circulated among the participants. The results showed that the maximum difference between the participants and the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures, evaluated using the comparison data of the linking laboratories of the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science and the National Metrology Institute of Japan, was less than 0.5% within the expanded uncertainty. This comparison supports the equivalence of the calibration capabilities of the participating laboratories. The results predate the publication of ICRU report 90, therefore, the revision of the data reflecting the effects of the ICRU report 90 on the degrees of equivalences of the participant laboratories is presented in Appendix C. To reach the main text of this paper, click on Final Report. Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database https://www.bipm.org/kcdb/. The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the CCRI, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA).

Key comparison BIPM.RI(I)-K4 of the absorbed dose to water standards of the NRC, Canada and the BIPM in 60Co gamma radiation

Main text A new key comparison of the standards for absorbed dose to water of the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), Canada and the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM) was carried out in the 60Co radiation beam of the BIPM in October 2020. The comparison result, based on the calibration coefficients for three transfer standards and evaluated as a ratio of the NRC and the BIPM standards for absorbed dose to water, is 0.9995 with a combined standard uncertainty of 3.4 parts in 103. The result agrees within the uncertainties with the comparison carried out in 2009. The results are analysed and presented in terms of degrees of equivalence, suitable for entry in the BIPM key comparison database. To reach the main text of this paper, click on Final Report. Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database https://www.bipm.org/kcdb/. The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the CCRI, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA).

A comparison of traceable spatial angle autocollimator calibrations performed by PTB and VTT MIKES

Autocollimators are versatile devices for angle metrology used in a wide range of applications in engineering and manufacturing. A modern electronic autocollimator generally features two measuring axes and can thus fully determine the surface normal of an optical surface relative to it in space. Until recently, however, the calibration capabilities of the national metrology institutes were limited to plane angles. Although it was possible to calibrate both measuring axes independently of each other, it was not feasible to determine their crosstalk if angular deflections were present in both axes simultaneously. To expand autocollimator calibrations from plane angles to spatial angles, PTB and VTT MIKES have created dedicated calibration devices which are based on different measurement principles and accomplish the task of measurand traceability in different ways. Comparing calibrations of a transfer standard makes it possible to detect systematic measurement errors of the two devices and to evaluate the validity of their uncertainty budgets. The importance of measurand traceability via calibration for a broad spectrum of autocollimator applications is one of the motivating factors behind the creation of both devices and for this comparison of the calibration capabilities of the two national metrology institutes. The latter is the focus of the work presented here.

A comparison in conventional mass measurements SIM.M.M-S6

Main text The present document reports the results of a bilateral comparison in the calibration of mass standards that was carried out between CESMEC (Chile) and CENAMEP AIP (Panamá). This comparison was carried out in the following nominal values: 200 mg, 1 g, 50 g, 200 g, 1 kg, 2 kg, and 10 kg. To reach the main text of this paper, click on Final Report. Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database https://www.bipm.org/kcdb/. The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the CCM, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA).