PTB News

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.

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...

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.

Highly reflecting mirrors are an essential component of the most precise optical interferometers, which are used, for example, for the detection of gravitational waves or in optical atomic clocks (to reduce the linewidth of lasers). These applications are inherently limited by Brownian noise, where the thermal motion of the particles in the mirror leads to fluctuations of the reflected light wave....

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...

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.

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.

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...

In the recently launched project “TruePA” (Truly Resilient Quantum Limited Traveling Wave Parametric Amplifiers), researchers from PTB and seven European partner institutions are jointly developing the next generation of parametric amplifiers, or TWPAs for short. Due to their extremely low noise, they are significant for the detection of weak electromagnetic signals at microwave frequencies of...

ELMEC Guide 7.2, “Software”, is the most widely used WELMEC manual. It is now available in an updated and revised 2023 version. This guide offers European notified bodies, manufacturers of measuring instruments and supervisory authorities harmonized technical interpretations of the fundamental demands of the European Measuring Instruments Directive (MID and of NAWID;31/2014/EU and 32/2014/EU). It...

“Think Metrology” is the motto from 26-29 August 2024 at the World Congress of the International Measurement Confederation (IMEKO). It will be a summit meeting for the world’s leading metrologists. More than 700 researchers and users will report on innovations and current topics stemming from the expansive field of metrology. You can already register and submit your paper.

Further information: h...