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Physical Measurement Laboratory /Quantum Measurement Division

Applied Electrical Metrology Group

The Applied Electrical Metrology group supports the nation's infrastructure by providing calibration services in the general areas of AC and DC voltage, current, phase and power. As part of this mission, the group maintains an active research program in precision measurement systems based on quantum voltage standards to support calibration services within the group.

watt meter
Electric Power Metrology and the Smart Grid
Quantum Waveform Metrology equipment
Quantum Waveform Metrology
applied electrical metrology group collage
Various projects from across the Group

News and Updates

Projects and Programs

thermal converter

AC-DC Difference

Ongoing
The use of thermal converters for ac voltage metrology was introduced by Frank Hermach at NIST in 1952. The basic thermal converter is a thermoelement, consisting of a thermocouple positioned at the midpoint of a heater wire, enclosed in an evacuated bulb. The thermoelement senses the heat generated
Allen Goldstein

Electric Power Metrology and the Smart Grid

Ongoing
Major advancements in electric power generation, transmission, distribution and loads over the last 20 years have led to improvements, reliability, robustness, efficiency and energy security unlike anything from the proceeding 80 years. Combined, this power grid modernization has been called the
modulation

Quantum Waveform Metrology

Ongoing
The recent redefinition of the SI was motivated in part by the success of quantum-based electrical standards, such as those based on the Josephson effect. Quantum standards enable the direct realization of physical quantities that are traceable to fundamental constants, invariant with respect to

Publications

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Awards

2008 APS Fellow - Richard Steiner

For his contributions to the development of the NIST Watt Balance, and landmark measurements of the Planck constant, the electron charge

Contacts

Group Leader