When you picture a thermometer, you may imagine having your temperature checked at the doctor’s office. But did you know there are photonic thermometers, which measure temperature using light? NIST researchers designed a way to combine these photonic thermometers – which are faster and smaller than traditional thermometers – using a dual frequency comb system. The latter has been used for measuring small amounts of greenhouse gases. This combined system allows researchers to test these photonic thermometers, or sensors, 10 to 1,000 times faster than current methods. This feat brings this type of technology a step closer to commercialization. Because these sensors measure data like strain and humidity, they can be embedded into the building materials, like concrete, as a building or bridge is built. As the concrete sets, the sensors measure these properties about the structure, giving engineers important information about how the structure formed. This could ultimately help with predicting how these structures will fare over time. Learn more about this technique: https://lnkd.in/gTEJqR4U #Physics #Photonics #Sensors #BuildingMaterials #Measurement
That looks like a nice EO comb in the background!