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Optical Frequency Comb

Compact Chips Advance Precision Timing for Communications, Navigation and Other Applications

Shrinking Technology, Expanding Horizons: Complete Article

National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO, USA

Igor Kudelin, et. al

Department of Physics, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA

Abstract: Numerous modern technologies are reliant on the low-phase noise and exquisite timing stability of microwave signals. Substantial progress has been made in the field of microwave photonics, whereby low-noise microwave signals are generated by the down-conversion of ultrastable optical references using a frequency comb^1,2,3. Such systems, however, are constructed with bulk or fibre optics and are difficult to further reduce in size and power consumption. In this work we address this challenge by leveraging advances in integrated photonics to demonstrate low-noise microwave generation via two-point optical frequency division^4,5. Narrow-linewidth self-injection-locked integrated lasers^6,7 are stabilized to a miniature Fabry–Pérot cavity⁸, and the frequency gap between the lasers is divided with an efficient dark soliton frequency comb⁹. The stabilized output of the microcomb is photodetected to produce a microwave signal at 20 GHz with phase noise of −96 dBc Hz⁻¹ at 100 Hz offset frequency that decreases to −135 dBc Hz⁻¹ at 10 kHz offset—values that are unprecedented for an integrated photonic system. All photonic components can be heterogeneously integrated on a single chip, providing a significant advance for the application of photonics to high-precision navigation, communication and timing systems.

Complete Article (PDF)

Stitches, Seams & Stitching

Standard stitch work – standards for men’s clothing sizes trace back to the Civil War, but no one even attempted to fix the sizes for women until almost a century later, when they called on NIST. #NYFW pic.twitter.com/dFQVGknU3w

— National Institute of Standards and Technology (@NIST) February 13, 2021

The Intersection of Design and Engineering

Blockchain Technology

Distributed Ledger Technology

The U.S. Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) issued a draft report — and a commenting opportunity the repport — that details a high-level technical overview of blockchain technology, its architecture, and how it works as the foundation of modern cryptocurrencies. NIST requested feedback from the public and private sectors, national and international, for the final publication. The document, Draft NIST Interagency Report (NISTIR) 8202: Blockchain Technology Overview, provided an in-depth look at the technologies that compromise blockchain systems and breaks down how blockchains can best be utilized, and how blockchain technology can be an asset to a business and its products.

“We want to help people understand how blockchains work so that they can appropriately and usefully apply them to technology problems,” said Dylan Yaga, a NIST computer scientist and co-author of the report. “It’s an introduction to the things you should understand and think about if you want to use blockchain.”

The report appears to have integrated public comment and now a landing page for NIST work in this area — as well as contact information for project leaders — is linked below

NIST Report on Blockchain Technology Aims to Go Beyond the Hype

Blockchain Technology Overview

NIST Headquarters / Gaithersburg, Maryland

Blockchain technology is a standing item on our Blockchain and Finance colloquia; open to everyone. Keep in mind that blockchain is a nascent (or “pre-adoption”) technology.

Issue: [18-25]

Category: Finance, Academics, Administration & Management

Colleagues: Mike Anthony, Jack Janveja, Richard Robben

Federal Agency Conformity Assessment

NIST Headquarters / Gaithersburg, Maryland

The National Institute of Standards and Technology requests comments on proposed revisions to regulations updating policy guidance on Federal agency use of conformity assessment that reflects advancement in conformity assessment concepts, and the evolution in Federal agency strategies and coordination in using and relying on conformity assessment.

The provisions are solely intended to be used as guidance for agencies in their use and reliance on conformity assessment to meet agency requirements and do not preempt the agency authority and responsibility to make decisions authorized by statute or required in establishing regulatory, procurement, or programmatic activities.

Federal Register: Guidance on Federal Conformity Assessment Activities

LEARN MORE:

~~ANSI Blog: NIST Guidance on Federal Agency Conformity Assessment Activities~~

Building Water Demand

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“…To combat the challenges that plumbing designers face, the NIST report recommends that researchers address a plethora of questions, including how water is used in different types of buildings, how water flow and plumbing design affect water quality, what factors influence chemical reactions and bacterial growth in pipes, and how fast water quality declines in plumbing systems…”

Summer Internship Research Fellowship

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In academia, a “fellowship” is a type of academic or professional award or grant that provides financial support to individuals to pursue a specific area of research or study. Fellowships are typically awarded to graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and scholars who have completed their doctoral degrees, and they are often highly competitive and prestigious. Fellowships may be sponsored by a variety of organizations, including government agencies, non-profit organizations, and private foundations, and they may be focused on a wide range of topics, including science, engineering, humanities, social sciences, and the arts. Some fellowships may provide funding for a specific research project, while others may support a scholar’s ongoing research or professional development.

In addition to providing financial support, fellowships may also offer other benefits, such as access to specialized resources or facilities, networking opportunities, and mentorship or professional development programs. Fellowships are often highly valued by scholars and researchers, as they provide support and recognition for their work and help to advance their careers in academia or other fields.

Unleashing American Innovation

The deadline for the 2023 National Institute of Standards and Technology Summer Undergraduate Fellowship Program varies from year to year, and it typically falls in the early months of the year. For example, for the 2022 NIST Summer Undergraduate Fellowship Program, the application period opened on November 22, 2021, and the deadline for submitting applications was February 15, 2022.

Vacancy announcements for the 2023 hybrid SURF program for both the Colorado and Maryland sessions closed February 1, 2023. That means applicants have a full year to apply for the 2024 program. We will send up a reminder at every quarter semester during our Leviathan colloquia