Quantum-based vacuum metrology at NIST

TL;DR

This paper discusses NIST's efforts to develop quantum-based vacuum pressure measurement techniques, aiming to align vacuum metrology with quantum standards and improve accuracy across various vacuum regimes.

Contribution

It introduces ongoing projects at NIST that utilize quantum properties and optical cavity techniques for vacuum pressure measurement across different vacuum levels.

Findings

Development of quantum-based methods for low vacuum pressure measurement

Use of trapped laser-cooled atoms for high vacuum particle counting

Progress towards standardizing vacuum metrology with quantum constants

Abstract

The measurement science in realizing and disseminating the unit for pressure in the International System of Units (SI), the pascal (Pa), has been the subject of much interest at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Modern optical-based techniques for pascal metrology have been investigated, including multi-photon ionization and cavity ringdown spectroscopy. Work is ongoing to recast the pascal in terms of quantum properties and fundamental constants and in so doing, make vacuum metrology consistent with the global trend toward quantum-based metrology. NIST has ongoing projects that interrogate the index of refraction of a gas using an optical cavity for low vacuum, and count background particles in high vacuum to extreme high vacuum using trapped laser-cooled atoms.