Metrology:

The fabric of science and technology

Lafe Spietz
TMA class of 1990

What is metrology?
The science of measurement
(not weather!)
Metrology establishes the international
standards for measurement used by all
countries in the world in both science and
industry
Examples: distance, time, mass,
temperature, voltage, values of physical and
chemical constants

Why is metrology important

and interesting?

Standard units and values of constants

needed for all science

Technological standards make all technology

work better and can save lives: fire hydrant
standards

Who does metrology?

Government labs around the world.

From Article I, section 8 of the U.S

Constitution:
The Congress shall have Power To
fix the Standard of Weights and
Measures;

SI: The International System of

Units
Seven base units:

Lots of derived units:

Length: meter (m)

Area: m2

Mass: kilogram (kg)

Speed: m/s

Time: second (s)

Electric current: ampere (A)

Force: 1 newton = 1 kgm/s2

Voltage: 1 volt = 1 m2kg/s3A
Frequency: 1 hertz = 1/s

Thermodynamic temperature: kelvin (K)

Power: 1 watt = 1 kgm2/s3

Amount of substance: mole (mol)

Electric Charge: 1 C = 1 As

Luminous intensity: candela (cd)

Hierarchy of units:
Kings and queens of units:
Time, frequency, distance
Dukes and Earls:
Current, voltage, resistance
Peasants:

Clocks: Atomic time

One part per quadrillion accuracy!!!

Accurate frequency gives accurate

distance and time.

Artifact vs. quantum standards:

A metal bar:
1889-1960

The modern meter:

The meter is the length of the path
traveled by light in vacuum during
a time interval of 1/299,792,458 of
a second

The story of mass I:

the modern kilogram
The SI
kilogram
drifts!

http://www.bipm.fr

The story of mass II:

possible replacements
Goal: 10 parts per billion accuracy

Avogadros number
Measurement:
Roundest object in
the world!

Watt-balance

Temperature: Kelvin, Celsius, and

Fahrenheit

21 C

70 F

294 K

0C

32 F

273.15 K

Water freezes

-196 C

-321 F

77 K

Air liquefies

4.2 K

Helium liquefies

-269 C

-452 F

-273.15 C -459.67 F

0K

Room temperature

Absolute zero

The kelvin: the SI unit

The kelvin, unit of thermodynamic temperature,
is the fraction 1/273.16 of the thermodynamic
temperature of the triple point of water.

(0.006 atm)

ITS-90: the practical realization of

the kelvin
PV=NkBT

Platinum resistance
standard
Not primary!!!

Constant volume gas

thermometer

PLTS-2000: the low temperature

definition of the kelvin
Not primary, and very hard!!

Helium-3 melting
pressure
thermometer

Superconducting
fixed points

Electrical noise and temperature:

The basic idea

All resistors make electrical noise proportional to

temperature: hissing of a radio

Electrical noise and temperature:

applications of noise thermometry

By measuring the electrical noise of antennas

pointed towards space, astronomers can measure
the background temperature of the universe!
(images courtesy ofNASA/WMAP Science Team)

Why noise thermometry is hard:

Amplifiers add noise, and have
complex behavior

Must be calibrated accurately to

measure temperature accurately

The Shot Noise Thermometer

2kBT / e

Relates temperature to voltage,

Simplifying amplifier calibration.

The Shot Noise Thermometer:

A new practical low temperature thermometer
Copper Tubing for DC lines

SMA Connectors for RF

Copper Plumbing parts

Tunnel Junction

Built-in Bias Tee

(on-board SMT
Components)

Total cost of package <10$