NIST Technicalendar August 31 to September 4, 2009 The NIST Technicalendar is issued each Friday. All items MUST be submitted electronically from this web page by 12:00 NOON each Wednesday unless otherwise stated in the NIST Technicalendar. The address for online weekly editions of the NIST Technicalendar and NIST Administrative Calendar is: http://www.nist.gov/tcal.

In this Issue: Meetings at NIST Meetings Elsewhere Announcements Talks by NIST Personnel NIST Web Site Announcements NIST Administrative Calendar (current)   NIST Vacancy Announcements (current)

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1:30 PM - Nanopositioning Single Quantum Dots

No Scheduled Events

2:00 PM - Validation of satellite observed high spectral resolution infrared

10:00 AM - MicroelectroMechanical Systems Reliability

No Scheduled Events

8/31 -- MONDAY

1:30 PM - CNST NANOFABRICATION RESEARCH GROUP SEMINAR: Nanopositioning Single Quantum Dots
Quantum dots (QDs) are stable, bright, semiconductor based light emitters that exhibit a quantized energy spectrum. For these reasons they have been considered as excellent candidates for development of nonlinear optoelectronic components, as well as basic building blocks for future quantum information technology. Many of these applications rely on the resonant interactions of QDs with nanophotonic structures such as microcavities or plasmonic nanoparticles. To reliably implement these resonant interactions requires the nanometer scale positioning of single QDs with the correct emission wavelength. Such positioning has proved extremely challenging due to both spatial randomness of QD growth locations and spectral randomness of QD emission (inhomogeneous broadening). In this talk I will present a novel technique for positioning single QDs with nanometer scale precision using electroosmotic flow control (EOFC). EOFC enables us to select single QDs inside a microfluidic chamber that have the correct radiative properties, and move them to a desired position. I will present our latest experimental results on QD positioning, and discuss our effort to positioning a single QD inside a photonic crystal cavity. Applications of these capabilities for optical computation and quantum information processing will also be addressed. Biography Edo Waks is a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Maryland, College Park. He is also a member of the Joint Quantum Institute (JQI), a collaborative effort between the University of Maryland and NIST, Gaithersburg, dedicated to the study of quantum coherence. Waks received his B.S. and M.S. from Johns Hopkins University, and his Ph.D. from Stanford University. He was awarded the prestigious NSF CAREER award as well as an ARO Young Investigator Award for the investigation of interactions between quantum dots and nanophotonic structures. His current work focuses coherent control and manipulation semiconductor quantum dots, and their interactions with photonic crystal devices for creating strong atom-photon interactions.
Edo Waks , Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Maryland.
Bldg. 216, Rm. H107. (NIST Contact: Andrew Berglund, 301-975-2844, andrew.berglund@nist.gov)


9/1 -- TUESDAY

No Scheduled Events

9/2 -- WEDNESDAY

2:00 PM - OPTICAL TECHNOLOGY DIVISION SEMINAR: Validation of satellite observed high spectral resolution infrared
Today's advanced satellite infrared sounders, such as the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) on the NASA Aqua platform and the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) on the European METOP-A platform, are primarily designed for improving medium range weather forecasts. The observations are also proving to be very useful for other applications such as climate process studies and climate change detection. Similarly, the spectral and radiometric accuracy of the infrared observations are proving to be substantially better than the pre-launch requirements and expectations. This presentation will focus on various efforts conducted in the last several years to assess the spectral and radiometric uncertainty of the AIRS and IASI infrared spectra, with an emphasis on high altitude aircraft underflights of the satellites with the University of Wisconsin Scanning High-resolution Infrared Sounder (S-HIS). Results from other techniques, including direct comparisons of the AIRS and IASI observations using Simultaneous Nadir Observations (SNOs) and comparisons of observed and calculated clear sky spectra, are also included.
David Tobin , Associate Scientist, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, davet@ssec.wisc.edu.
Physics, 221 Bldg, Rm. B145. (NIST Contact: Gerald Fraser, 301-975-3797, fraser@nist.gov)


9/3 -- THURSDAY

10:00 AM - MEMS SEMINAR: MicroelectroMechanical Systems Reliability
MicroElectroMecahnical Systems (MEMS) are integrated micro devices or systems combining electrical and mechanical components that can sense, control, and actuate on the micro scale and function individually or in arrays to generate effects on the macro scale. MEMS is one of the most promising areas in future computer and machinery, the next logical step in the silicon revolution. Fabricated using Integrated Circuit (IC) compatible batch-processing techniques, the small size of MEMS opens a new line of exciting applications, including aerospace, automotive, biological/medical, fluidics, military, optics, and many other areas. Reliability is of concern if MEMS machinery is used in critical applications. MEMS are usually a combination of circuits and micro-machinery. The reliability aspect includes both the electronic and the mechanical parts, complicated by the interactions. Different from mechanical systems, inertia is of little concern; the effects of atomic forces and surface science dominate. System level reliability concerns for MEMS has a consequence on the market due to the performance of MEMS when integrated with System on Chip (SOC) , System on a Package (SOP) or System in a Package (SOP). This talk will cover fundamental barriers for MEMS system performance for SOP, SOC and SIP. Also aspects of failure mechanisms and their failure modes in Bio MEMS and RF MEMS will be presented.
Ravi Doraiswami , Professor, University of Maryland CALCE, College Park, MD, ravidsw@umd.edu.
Technology 225 Bldg, Rm. A360. (NIST Contact: Michael Gaitan, 301-975-2070, gaitan@nist.gov)


9/4 -- FRIDAY

No Scheduled Events

ADVANCE NOTICE

9/11/09 10:30 AM - NIST COLLOQUIUM SERIES (JOINTLY SPONSORED BY MSEL): Pores Without Walls for Clean Energy
The ability to stitch molecules into extended porous structures (reticular chemistry) is a new area of research that has enabled the design of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) having surface areas of several football fields per gram (10,000 m2/gm). This internal surface is critically important in applications leading to cleaner fuels and capture of carbon dioxide from power plants. I will present how my love for molecules has led to beautiful creations and applications of a new class of crystalline materials with a diversity and number that far exceed any other.
Omar Yaghi , Director, Center for Reticular Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles.
Administration Building, Green Auditorium. (NIST Contact: Kum Ham, 301-975-4203, kham@nist.gov)
Special Assistance Available

9/17/09 10:00 AM - ,PTC SEMINAR: NOTE***DATE CHANGE***CoCreate CAD Software Demo *** DATE CHANGE
Parametric Technology Corporation (PTC) would like introduce their CoCreate CAD software and related products to the NIST community. The Instrument Development Engineering Group at the NIST Center for Neutron Research (NCNR) has been using CoCreate CAD software and related products for over 15 years. During that time the software has become one of the top explicit modelers. All are welcome. Please RSVP to Daniel Adler by phone x5792 or email at daniel.adler@nist.gov if interested. For more information on this presentation or the CoCreate products contact Daniel or visit www.ptc.com/products/cocreate.
Cristina Chin , PTC.
Administration Bldg, Lecture Rm. C. (NIST Contact: Daniel Adler, 301-975-5792, daniel.adler@nist.gov)

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MEETINGS ELSEWHERE


8/31 -- MONDAY

No Scheduled Events

9/1 -- TUESDAY

No Scheduled Events

9/2 -- WEDNESDAY

No Scheduled Events

9/3 -- THURSDAY

No Scheduled Events

9/4 -- FRIDAY

No Scheduled Events

ADVANCE NOTICE

No Scheduled Events

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TALKS BY NIST PERSONNEL

No Scheduled Events

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

SBIR CALL FOR SUBTOPICS
The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program is intended to stimulate technological innovation by utilizing American small businesses to meet federal R&D needs, and transfer of Government technology to the private sector for commercialization. The NIST SBIR Program Office has initiated the FY 2010 cycle by calling for technical subtopics. Detailed guidelines for procedures to follow in submitting subtopics are available from your OU. The OU coordinators are: Jim Olthoff (810), Howard Harary (820), Richard Cavanagh (830), William Ott (840), Michael Fasolka (850), Bill Grosshandler (860), and Larry Reeker (890). The subtopics must address the objective of seeking innovative solutions with strong commercial potential that are aligned with your research initiatives. All subtopics must be submitted through the OU coordinator, with each establishing the due date for submission of subtopics within their respective Laboratory. The subtopics selected will be published in the SBIR Solicitation in early November 2009 with proposals due January 2010. Contracts will be awarded in July 2010, with the period of performance from July 2010 to February 2011. Phase 1 contracts for a six-month feasibility study will be awarded up to $90,000. Successful Phase 1 projects will compete for follow-on Phase 2 awards of up to $300,000 for two years of R&D. For further information, contact Clara Asmail (asmail@nist.gov), x2339 or go to: www-i.nist.gov/sbir
NIST Contact: Clara Asmail, 301-975-2339, asmail@nist.gov

RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS
Individuals at NIST who wish to conduct, or wish to sponsor, any research involving human subjects, including human cells or tissue, are required by Federal regulations to obtain approval before embarking on the research. This includes: (1) Research conducted here at NIST by NIST employees or guest workers; (2) Collaborative research with others outside of NIST, including CRADAs and other agreements; and/or (3) Research funded by NIST through grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements. The current procedures for approving projects involving human subjects can be found in the NIST Administrative Manual Subchapter 14.01, Protection of Human Subjects (http://www-i.nist.gov/admin/mo/adman/1401.htm). These procedures ensure that the proposed research is in compliance with the applicable DOC Regulations, 15 C.F.R. Part 27 (http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_99/15cfr27_99.html). NIST's Institutional Review Board (IRB) reviews and approves those research proposals involving human subjects that require IRB review for research to be conducted by NIST employees, with or without the participation of others. The NIST IRB is described in Administrative Manual Subchapter 3.01, Appendix A (http://www-i.nist.gov/admin/mo/adman/301irb.htm). These regulations are broader than many people realize, and involve more than, for example, just invasive medical procedures. They can also cover volunteers participating in questionnaires and surveys and people testing computer software. All research involving human subjects being conducted at an institution outside of NIST that has not been determined to be exempt from the Federal policy by the appropriate NIST OU Director must be approved by a cognizant IRB that is currently registered with the Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP), DHHS. In addition, the institution conducting the research involving human subjects must have a current Federalwide Assurance (FWA) on file with OHRP. The outside IRB's approval will be subject to review and approval by NIST. The NIST IRB Chair reviews the documentation provided by the outside researchers and the outside IRB and recommends approval or disapproval to the NIST Deputy Director, with the concurrence of the Chief Counsel for NIST. Research being conducted at NIST by NIST employees that has not been determined to be exempt by the appropriate NIST OU Director must be reviewed by the NIST IRB. The use of human subjects in the project may not begin until the Chief Counsel for NIST has concurred with the IRB's recommendation to approve the project and the Deputy Director of NIST has approved it. Signatures required before the proposal is sent to the NIST IRB include that of the Group Leader and Division Chief (who approve the scientific merit of the research), and the Laboratory Director (who determines whether it is exempt or requests IRB review). An OU Director's exemption determination must receive concurrence from the Chief Counsel for NIST and then be forwarded to the NIST IRB Chair, Dr. Richard R. Cavanagh, for noting and filing. For more information, contact the NIST IRB Secretary, Janet Brumby, (301) 975-3189 or email: brumby@nist.gov or visit our website at: http://www-i.nist.gov/director/IRB/ (For best viewing of all pages associated with this website, your monitor should have a display setting of 800 by 600 and in Microsoft Internet Explorer). All correspondence should be mailed to Mail Stop 1710.
NIST Contact: Janet Brumby, 301-975-3189, janet.brumby@nist.gov

THINK SAFETY! THINK STANDARDS!
Safety standards are now available on the NIST Intranet. Standards are an important part of the safety literature and are vital elements in framing and defining safety policies and procedures. Consult this page for a variety of core safety standards relevant to NIST's operations and interests. NIST's NCSCI (National Center for Standards and Certification Information, TS, Standards Services Division) can send you any other safety standards you need and guide you to other relevant standards. Call NCSCI on ext. 4040 or email ncsci@nist.gov with your safety standards needs.
NIST Contact: Anne Meininger, 301-975-2921, anne.meininger@nist.gov

VISITOR REGISTRATION FOR NIST EVENTS
Because of heightened security at the NIST Gaithersburg site, members of the public who wish to attend meetings, seminars, lectures, etc. must first register in advance. For more information please call or e-mail the "NIST Contact" for the particular event you would like to attend.
NIST Contact: . ., ., .

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NIST WEB SITE ANNOUNCEMENTS

No Web Site announcements this week.

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For more information, contact Ms. Sharon Hallman, Editor, Stop 2500, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg MD 20899-2500; Telephone: 301-975-TCAL (3570); Fax: 301-926-4431; or Email: tcal@nist.gov.

All lectures and meetings are open unless otherwise stated.

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