The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is about to open the world’s most accurate facility for calibrating infrared (IR) detectors. What makes this possible is an extremely precise reference scale based on NIST’s newly developed standard detectors with sensitivities two orders of magnitude better than any others of comparable design. When final quality-system checks that are now in process are completed later this year, calibrations will be made available to customers through NIST Measurement Services.

The NIST Infrared Spectral Comparator Facility (IR-SCF) has been under development for the past 10 years. It received major funding from the U.S. Air Force and collaboration from two leading detector manufacturers. The facility is expected to draw customers from the Department of Defense, NASA, instrument companies, and calibration laboratories, among others.

in
Figure 1. Calibration setup: (A) infrared source, (B) monochromator, (C) output beam and device under test (red) next to NIST standard detector

 …