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History of Quantum Hero Image

Atomic / Molecular / Quantum

News and Updates

Major Leap for Nuclear Clock Paves Way for Ultraprecise Timekeeping

These clocks could lead to improved timekeeping and navigation, faster internet speeds, and advances in fundamental physics research.

A Physicist and Steampunk Enthusiast Explores Thermodynamics in the Quantum World

Spotlight: Alejandra Collopy and Atomic Clocks

Novel ‘Quantum Refrigerator’ Is Great at Erasing Quantum Computer’s Chalkboard

Blog Posts

Shedding Light: How NIST’s Light Database Helps Bring You Computer Chips, Welded Steel and More

Pirouetting Molecules Can Help Us Learn About the History of the Universe

One of the World’s Roundest Objects Is Helping to Build a Better Mass Measurement

Projects and Programs

Atomic Thermometers

Ongoing
Approach 1 Compact Blackbody Radiation Atomic Sensor (CoBRAS) The Compact Blackbody Radiation Atomic Sensor (CoBRAS) uses a thermal vapor of atoms excited by a single laser to detect BBR. From the optically excited state, atomic population is transferred to other, nearby excited states by a

Platform for Realizing Integrated Molecule Experiments (PRIME)

Ongoing
Blackbodies realize a clear relationship between radiated power and temperature through Planck’s law. While a reliable instrument for temperature and power calibrations, blackbodies are afflicted with a plethora of systematics (e.g., non-ideal emissivity, propagation loss, temperature gradients

Advanced Microwave Photonics

Ongoing
NIST is home to a broad interdisciplinary program in quantum information science. NIST is exploring multiple implementations of qubits and strategies for taking advantage of quantum effects to compute, simulate, and improve fundamental measurement strategies. Josephson junctions are at the heart of

Theoretical Mass Spectrometry

Ongoing
No Description Intended Impact Unknown compounds will be identified more reliably. Quality control for the NIST Mass Spectrometry Database will be enhanced. Goals Develop software tools for predicting microcanonical branching fractions automatically. This is currently too laborious and too technical