Quantum cascade laser measures ethanol

Precision work for large molecules

01-Apr-2019 - Quantum cascade lasers are able to measure the smallest molecules with high precision. But the technology has failed to measure larger gas molecules - until now! Empa researchers have succeeded in quantifying ethanol, an important organic molecule, with the aid of such a laser. In collaboration ...

Don't Give the Slightest Chance to Toxic Elements in Medicinal Products

New high-accuracy reference solutions for the SI-traceable measurement

27-Mar-2018 - Lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic do not belong in medicinal products. International requirements for the quality of medicines have therefore become more stringent and introduced new control requirements. Hence, it makes sense to use high-accuracy reference solutions with defined contents of ...

Young start-up team develops new reference materials for direct microanalysis of solids

Setting new standards in solids analysis

14-Mar-2018 - How badly plants are affected by contaminated soil, what the sea floor can reveal about past climate, or what yield an ore mine could deliver in future - an analysis of the chemical composition of minerals and rocks can often provide valuable information. For accurate results, not only are ...

Measuring Planck's constant, watt balance brings world closer to new kilogram

22-Jun-2016 - A high-tech version of an old-fashioned balance scale at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has just brought scientists a critical step closer toward a new and improved definition of the kilogram. The scale, called the NIST-4 watt balance, has conducted its first ...

Mixing solids and liquids enhances optical properties of both

13-Jun-2016 - By immersing glass particles in a fluid, researchers at MIT's Media Lab and Harvard University are exploring a new mechanism for modifying an optical device's diffusivity, or the extent to which it scatters light. In its current form, the new diffuser could be used to calibrate a wide range of ...

The precision of solar photovoltaic power measurements doubled

22-Sep-2015 - An analysis carried out by JRC scientists shows that the uncertainty in measurement of power generation from a photovoltaic (PV) cell can be more than halved, thus bringing an economic benefit to both manufacturers and investors. With the annual world PV production exceeding 40 GW in 2014 and a ...