The Economy

Cryostats are devices in which defined and spatially limited areas or components are cooled down to a predefined and very low temperature, e.g. below -269 °C (4.2 K). A novel device designed for the variable temperature adjustment of special flow cryostats based on pneumatic motors made of plastic and of other components made of non-magnetic materials can minimize electromagnetic interference fields. This enables direct, high-precision SQUID measurements of weakly magnetic materials that cannot be achieved using conventional optical methods or neutron scattering techniques. The cryostats are inexpensive and easy to manufacture. (Technology Offer 521)

PTB has determined the surface of a life-size cow model. This has enhanced the experience in the dimensional measurement of natural or near-natural material, which will be beneficial to future metrological challenges.

In geochronological sciences, for example when determining the age of rocks, potassium-40 is known to be one of the most important tools. To this end, its half-life and further decay data must be known as accurately as possible. These have been redetermined in sophisticated experiments.

Working within an industrial cooperation project, PTB has developed a novel metrology system for the quantum-based generation and measurement of voltage signals. The system is based on a pulse-driven Josephson standard, the Josephson arbitrary waveform synthesizer (JAWS), and has been designed for deployment in a wide variety of applications. This system can be used not only as a quantum-based voltage generator, but also as an ultra-accurate instrument for measuring DC voltages and AC voltage signals. A prototype has been successfully tested at PTB for signal frequencies up to 100 kHz.

Since December 2022, cash gaming machines have been approved by PTB in digital form only. The transition to digital processes increases efficiency and saves time in the approval procedure for both PTB and applicants.

For 25 years now, PTB has been supporting the development of extreme ultraviolet lithography in Europe by characterizing optical coatings. Since 2019, this European technology has been used in the mass production of high-quality semiconductor components. With this application, the requirements placed on the quality of the measurements have once again significantly increased. To meet this challenge, a new and improved reflectometer has now been put into operation.

An optical gas sensor specially developed by PTB for the trace water vapor range enables calibration-free, SI-traceable measurements for use in climate research and industry.

Ein in der PTB speziell für den Spurenfeuchtebereich entwickelter optischer Gassensor ermöglicht kalibrierfreie, SI-rückgeführte Messungen für Klimaforschung und Industrie.

Mit weltweit mehr als 100 Millionen Untersuchungen pro Jahr ist die Magnetresonanztomografie (MRT) das zweitwichtigste medizinische Bildgebungsverfahren nach dem Röntgen. Doch wer ein Implantat trägt, muss oftmals auf diese potenziell lebensrettende Diagnosemöglichkeit verzichten oder eine geringere Bildqualität in Kauf nehmen. Insbesondere aktive Implantate wie Herzschrittmacher und Neurostimulatoren können in Kombination mit einer MR-Untersuchung bei unvorsichtiger Anwendung zu gefährlichen Erwärmungen im Körper führen. In der Physikalisch-Technischen Bundesanstalt (PTB) wurde nun demonstriert, wie mit einer drahtlosen Kommunikation zwischen Implantat und Magnetresonanztomograf dieses Problem gelöst werden kann. Dies könnte Millionen von Patientinnen und Patienten helfen und die Arbeit des Krankenhauspersonals erheblich vereinfachen. Die Ergebnisse wurden in der Zeitschrift Magnetic Resonance in Medicine veröffentlicht.