Metrology

Welcome to the
Physikalisch-Technische
Bundesanstalt
National Metrology Institute of Germany
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Metrology:
• Science and application of correct
measurement
• Traceability of results to the SI
through national standards
Hermann von Helmholtz
• Determination of results with
verification of uncertainty
PTB:
• National Metrology Institute (NMI)
• Federal Ministry of Economics
and Technology (BMWi)
• 1500 staff members
• 125 million € budget
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Time table of some highlights
1887
Foundation of the Physikalisch-Technischen Reichsanstalt (PTR)
Werner von Siemens / Hermann von Helmholtz
1893
Heat radiation laws by Willy Wien → Nobel Prize in 1911
1913
Peak counter for α and β particles by Hans Geiger
1916
Albert Einstein becomes Kurator of PTR
1925
Discovery of element Rhenium by Ida Tacke and Walter Noddak
Coincidence method by Walter Bothe → Nobel Prize in 1954
1950
Renaming in Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB)
1966
Development of caesium atomics clocks
1980
First measurement of the Quantum Hall resistance together
with Klaus von Klitzing
1991
Unification of ASMW and PTB
2002
International commission evaluates PTB
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Advisory Board of PTB
 Supporting PTB and BMWi in important PTB-relevant questions
 permanent evaluation of actual tasks
 strategic recommendations
 25 honorary members with leading positions in science and economy
 Nobel Prize winners in the PTB Advisory Board:
Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen, Philipp Lenard, Willy Wien, Max von
Laue, Max Planck, Albert Einstein, Gustav Hertz und Walter Bothe
presently: Klaus von Klitzing and Theodor Hänsch
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Site Braunschweig
Bundesallee 100
38116 Braunschweig
Divisions:
• Mechanics and Acoustics
• Electricity
• Chemical Physics and
Explosion Protection
• Optics
• Precision Engineering
• Ionizing Radiation
• Scientific and Technical Crosssectional Tasks
• Administration
Presidential Board
German Calibration Service (DKD)
(approx. 1200 staff members)
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What characterizes the PTB?
PTB is not a typical government agency:
 60 % research / development
 30 % calibration / services
 10 % consulting / cooperation in bodies
PTB is not a typical research institute:
 per legislation the PTB has to ensure the
uniformity of metrology in Germany
 highest technological requirements make own
research programs necessary
 a lot of tasks are based on legal guidelines
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Fields of Activity
• Fundamentals of metrology
Realization and dissemination of
SI-units
• Metrology for economy
Increasing the efficiency of economy,
safeguarding of employment
• Metrology for society
Promotion of consumer protection,
safeguarding of living conditions
• International affairs
Removal of technical barriers to trade,
unification of metrology
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Fundamentals of metrology
Realization and dissemination of the units
•
Research
Fundamental research in the field of
metrology, for instance:
 tracking back of SI units to
fundamental and physical constants
 utilization of quantum effects for
realization of the units
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•
Primary standards
Development and provision
•
Secondary- and transfer standards
Dissemination of the units
Fundamentals of metrology
New definition of „kilogram“
• Unit of mass is still defined in
relation to an artifact
• The kilogram prototype was
defined in 1889
Redefining to physical fundamental constants:
 “Counting” a very large number of identical
atoms in a perfect 1 kg Silicium-28 sphere
 New definition of Avogadro constant
International long term project with different
participating departments in PTB
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Metrology for society
Protection of people, nature and environment
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•
Verification act
Type approval and testing of measuring
systems
•
Medicine
Dosimetry of ionizing radiation,
measurement methods for diagnosis and
treatment checks
•
Explosion protection
Physical safety engineering,
explosion protection of electrical equipment
•
Environmental measurement
i. e. analysis of pollutants and traces,
noise protection
Metrology for economy
To foster economy and safeguard employment
•
Mechanical engineering, automotive,
air and space technology
Mechanical quantities, coordinates, ...
•
Electrical industry and IT
Electrical systems, sensors,
micro-/nanotechnology, ...
•
Optical industry
Characterization of optical systems, ...
•
Chemical and pharmaceutical industry
Traceability in chemical analytics, ...
•
Medical industry
Instruments, methods, systems, ...
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International affairs
Unifying metrology and removing barriers to trade
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•
Global metrology
Cooperation with all metrology institutes,
international comparison measurements
•
Cooperation in international bodies
Meter Convention, EUROMET,
legal metrology, standardization bodies
•
European major projects
iMERA, Galileo, ITER
•
Technical cooperation
Assistance to and cooperation with
developing and newly industrialized countries
Welcome to the
230th PTB Seminar
Conductivity and Salinity
September 13 / 14, 2007
Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt
Braunschweig
National Metrology Institute of Germany
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