Mass metrology

News and Updates

Opposite sides of a quartz crystal resonator

Universe in the Balance

February 12, 2020

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have found a way to link measurements made by a device integral to microchip

White Cat Hair on Black Pants: International Study Measures Stability of Precision Masses to Benefit Trade

November 26, 2018

When are two nominally identical kilogram masses no longer identical? When each goes to a different place and adsorbs varying amounts of moisture and

Comparison of Future Realizations of the Kilogram - Final Report

March 15, 2018

The Pilot Study — read 2016 article details — was completed in late 2016 and the Final Report was published on the BIPM website (PDF) in June of 2017. The main

Projects and Programs

Precision Electro-Mechanical Experiments (PREME)

Ongoing

The Precision Electro-Mechanical Experiments (PREME) program develops precision electro-mechanical measurements for fundamental traceability of the SI units and

Nanometrology: Composition and Structure of Nanomaterials

Ongoing

Advances in methods, instrumentation and analysis protocols are developed to enhance measurement science capabilities in nanomaterial elemental and

Metrology and Standards for Nanoscale Stress

Ongoing

Our objective is to develop accurate measurement methods for the nanoscale stress distributions and surface defects that control device performance and

Quantifying the environmental contributions to mass change

Ongoing

Since the inception of the SI system of units, physical mass artifacts have been disseminated in order to realize the unit of the kilogram, essential to a broad

Publications

Measurement of Submilligram Masses Using Electrostatic Force

May 3, 2021

Author(s)

Gordon Shaw, Julian Stirling

Scaling of Mass and Force Using Electrical Metrology

May 3, 2021

Author(s)

Gordon Shaw

The impending redefinition of the International System of Units (SI) allows realization of the kilogram using electrical metrology. It can be shown that

Design of an electrostatic balance to measure optical power of 100 kW

February 19, 2021

Author(s)

Lorenz Keck, Gordon A. Shaw, Renee Theska, Stephan Schlamminger

To accommodate the need for increased portability and accuracy in laser power measurement instrumentation above 100 Watt at the National Institute of Standards

Redefining the kilogram and other SI units

February 10, 2021

Author(s)

Stephan Schlamminger

Units are at the heart of science and technology. Most measurements require units to express their result. The International System of Units (SI) provides a