Electrical nanometrology

Project Description

After consultation of the partners NPL and PTB a questionnaire was sent around to each EUROMET member, in order to survey one’s capabilities and activities in the field of electrical nanometrology. 18 out of 23 members filled in the questionnaire. A summary of the results was presented at the EUROMET Electricity contact persons meeting on 21 November in Prague.

Based on the results of the questionnaire a workshop is in preparation. This workshop will be organised in the Netherlands on 15&16 May. The aim will be to co-ordinate our joint activities in the field, and to investigate and discuss how standard laboratories should anticipate the need from European industry for electromagnetic calibrations and electromagnetic metrology that is related to devices based on nanotechnology (SET, Josephson, quantum Hall, nanotubes, ...). The idea is to discuss what R&D projects are necessary in order to serve the future calibration need from industry to what extent can standard laboratories and industrial companies collaborate in metrological R&D projects in the field of electrical nanometrology.

Obviously, also industrial companies and calibration laboratories are invited to the workshop. We expect about forty to fifty people, such that the atmosphere is rather informal, with open discussions.

The first day of the programme will be filled with presentations from standard laboratories and industrial companies, and a poster presentation with plenty room for discussion. The second day the EC will give one or two presentations on the importance of nanotechnology and how to apply for funding, after which a panel discussion should finish the programme. After the programme ended there will still be time and room left in the afternoon to discuss possible collaborations.

Final Report 2003-03-10

After consultation of the partners NPL and PTB a questionnaire was sent around to each EUROMET member, in order to survey one’s capabilities and activities in the field of electrical nanometrology. 18 out of 23 members filled in the questionnaire. A summary of the results was presented at the EUROMET Electricity contact persons meeting on 21 November 2001 in Prague.

Based on the results of this questionnaire a workshop was organised in the Netherlands on 15&16 May 2002. The aim was to co-ordinate our joint activities in the field, and to investigate and discuss how standard laboratories should anticipate the need from European industry for electromagnetic calibrations and electromagnetic metrology that is related to devices based on nanotechnology (SET, Josephson, quantum Hall, nanotubes, ...). We discussed  what R&D projects are necessary in order to serve the future calibration need from industry to what extent can standard laboratories and industrial companies collaborate in metrological R&D projects  in the field of electrical nanometrology. Obviously, also industrial companies and calibration laboratories were invited to the workshop; representatives of Toshiba and Keithley were present. All presentations at the workshop were collected and disseminated on a CD-ROM.

An important outcome of the workshop was the start of a new possible FP6 project in this field. A brainstorm session with ideas at the meeting has led to an Expression of Interest (called QuIST). At present, this EoI is the basis of a proposal for a new project, which is outside the scope of this EUROMET project.