A UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

'publication

''«rf i o'

'

NBS TECHNICAL NOTE 618

U.S.

APARTMENT

OF

COMMERCE

National

5 -eau 100

of rds

WR15 Microwave Calorimeter

and Bolometer Unit
NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

The National Bureau of Standards1 was established by an act of Congress March 3,

1 901 . The Bureau's overall goal is to strengthen and advance the Nation's science and

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iUG 1 1972 , a nrc UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Peter G. Peterson, Secretary

U5153

TlT

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS • Lewis M. Branscomb, Director

NBS TECHNICAL NOTE 618

ISSUED MAY 1972

Nat. Bur. Stand. (U.S.), Tech. Note 61 8, 41 pages (May 1972) CODEN: NBTNA

WR15 Microwave Calorimeter and Bolometer Unit

Morris E. Harvey

Electromagnetics Division National Bureau of Standards

Boulder, Colorado

NBS Technical Notes are designed to supplement the Bureau's regular publications program. They provide

a means for making available scientific data that are

of transient or limited interest. Technical Notes may

be listed or referred to in the open literature.

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. (Order by SD Catalog No. 013.46:618), Price 75 cents 20402

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

LIST OF TABLES v LIST OF FIGURES vii

ABSTRACT 1

1 . INTRODUCTION 1

1.1 Change in Electroformed Isolation Section 2

1 . 2 Changes in Bolometer Units 3

2 . CONSTRUCTION 4

2.1 Directions for Assembly of the Calorimeter

Lead-in 4

2.2 Directions for Assembly of the Calorimeter.... 4

2.3 Directions for Assembly of Bolometer Unit 6

3 . CALORIMETER OPERATION 7

3.1 Measurement Sequence 7

4. ERROR ANALYSIS 9

4.1 Nonproportionality of Thermopile Voltage 10

4 . 2 Bolometer Unit Walls 10

4.3 Calorimeter Flange 11

4.4 Thermal Isolation Section 12

4.5 Microvolt Potentiometer 12

4.6 Environment Stability 13

4.7 Lead Thermal Isolation 13

4.8 Error Due to the Bridge and Voltmeter 13

4.9 The Bolometer Units 14

in
TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued)

4.10 Imprecision 15

4.11 Summary 15

5 . REFERENCES 17

IV
LIST OF TABLES

PAGE

1. Commercial Products for Calorimeter 18

2. Commercial Products for Bolometer Units 20

3. Components of Lead-in Seals 21

4. Components to Supply Microwave Power to WR15

Calorimeter 22

5

.

Connections to Microwave Components 23

6

.

Accessory Equipment 24

7. Systematic Errors and Limits of Systematic

Uncertainty 25
LIST OF FIGURES

PAGE

1

.

WR15 Calorimeter 26

2

.

Calorimeter Assembly and Mandrel 27

3. Calorimeter Cover Part and Lead-in Parts 28

4. Calorimeter Base Parts 29

5

.

Bolometer Unit Parts Leads 30

6 . Lead-in Seals ' 31

7 . Components to Supply Microwave Power 32

8 . Accessory Equipment 33

VI
WR15

MICROWAVE CALORIMETER

AND

BOLOMETER UNIT

by

Morris E. Harvey

Electromagnetics Division

National Bureau of Standards

Boulder, Colorado

ABSTRACT

A microwave calorimeter which serves as the

National Bureau of Standards (NBS) standard for

power measurements in the frequency range 50 to

75 GHz has been completed and evaluated recently.

Included here are descriptions of the principal

changes in the calorimeter and bolometer unit

from the WR28 models which are of similar design.

Also included are construction details, ac- cessory equipment, operation procedure, and error

analysis. An improved thermal isolating waveguide

section and calorimeter flange are features of this

calorimeter.

A careful error analysis permits the determination of the effective efficiency of a standard

bolometer unit to estimated limits of systematic

uncertainty of ± 0.23%. The estimated 3a limit of

random uncertainty is 0.05%.

Key words: Calorimeter; microwave; power; standard,

1. INTRODUCTION

The National Bureau of Standards (NBS) standards for

microwave power consist of a series of calorimeters and
standard bolometer units which evolved from a design by

Macpherson and Kerns [l] 1

. Refinements and modifications to

the original design have been made by Engen [2]. The calorimeters are used to determine the effective efficiencies of

bolometer units which are used as transfer standards. This

paper describes the latest of the NBS calorimeters and bolometer units (fig. 1) which are designed for use in the

frequency band 50 to 75 GHz (WR15).

Presented here is a description of the principal changes

from earlier WR28 designs of the standard bolometer units and

the calorimeters [3]; directions for construction, operating

procedures, and an error analysis. The error analysis includes

a correction for systematic errors, and an estimate of the

total limits of uncertainty in the effective efficiencies

of the standard bolometer units.

1.1. Changes in Electroformed Isolation Section

The principal difference of the WR15 calorimeter from

the WR28 calorimeter is in the construction of the thin-walled

waveguide thermal isolation section. This section of waveguide had previously been folded from one thousandth-inch

thick copper but now is electroformed. It proved difficult

to terminate the thin-walled section to provide a flange

surface having the same loss as the flange of a precision

figures in brackets indicate literature references.
section of waveguide. (Ideally the flange loss should be

the same when the mount is calibrated in the calorimeter

and when the mount is being used.) The electroformed section

has several advantages- -ease of making a flange surface similar

to that of a precision section of waveguide; also the isolation section and flange microwave loss may be evaluated by

a sliding short method [4]. The sliding short method provides

better accuracy than the previously used fixed short method

for evaluation of loss in the isolation section and flange.

1.2. Changes in Bolometer Units

There are two principal differences between the new

WR15 bolometer units and the earlier WR28 units. The WR15

commercial block, which contains the thermistor matching

structure and microwave bypass for the dc lead, proved to

have an inadequate microwave bypass and required more lossy

material around the dc lead in the unit than had been previously used. The other difference is that thermal barriers

across the waveguide were not used in the WR15 units. Thermal

barriers have been used in the units to keep thermal energy

from the thermistor from leaving the unit. The justification

for omitting the thermal barriers is given in the error

analysis

.
2. CONSTRUCTION

Details of the fabrication of calorimeter and bolometer

unit parts are shown in figures 2, 3, 4, and 5, and a list of

commercial products used is given in tables 1 and 2.

2.1. Directions for Assembly of the Calorimeter Lead-in

To start the assembly of the calorimeter lead-in, solder

the seal flange to the short end of the J shaped waveguide,

and face off the flange. Drill screw clearance holes and

alignment holes using a drill jig. Put the conduit fittings

in place and flare the conduit ends, (fig. 6). Pass the

waveguide and the conduits through the holes in the two

conduit spaces and the binding post block and solder on the

underside. Solder the calorimeter unit flange; face it

off and drill screw holes and alignment holes and tap the screw holes. Install the binding posts. Next pull the

thermistor lead and the thermopile lead through the conduits.

Attach the thermistor lead to the ungrounded binding post.

Install the rings, waveguide, and conduit seals. The seals

are shown in figure 6, and the components are listed in

t ab 1 e 3 .

2.2. Directions for Assembly of the Calorimeter

Start the assembly of the calorimeter base by removing

1.5 inches (3.8 cm) of the aluminum mandrel from the base
flange end of the electro formed waveguide using 'hot concen- trated sodium hydroxide solution. Next, tin, then solder

together the electrcformed waveguide, calorimeter flange,

base flange, and base using 60-40 tin lead solder. The solder

must be kept off the thin section of the electroformed waveguide and the surfaces that fit against the spacers. Clean up

any flux in this area. Position the spacers. The space

between the electroformed waveguide and spacers must be

totally filled with low viscosity epoxy resin. Epoxy resin

is also used to bind the spacers to the base, calorimeter

flange, and reference flange, and the stainless steel inserts

in the calorimeter flange. After the epoxy resin has cured, remove the remainder of the mandrel using sodium hydroxide

solution. Protect the spacer. Face off the base flange and

drill screw and alignment holes using a drill jig. Drill the

alignment holes in the calorimeter flange and grind it flat.

Put in the trim wires and cTose the holes in reference ring

and base using a pointed punch. Insert the thermopile insulation into the reference flange and calorimeter flange. Wind

the thermopile form with 4 7 evenly spaced turns of constantan

wire and secure the ends by looping the wire through the holes

in the form. Mask the wires on the top of the form to prevent

plating, and copper plate the exposed wire for 30 minutes

using a current of 100 milliamperes . Remove the masking

material and solder the jacks in place. Press the thermopile
into place. Assemble the conduit to the base and add the

legs and O-ring. Add the reference ring and connect the

thermopile leads. Screw the hanger, calorimeter spacer, stud

and cover together. The cover screws are used not only to

hold the cover in place but also to remove it.

2.3. Directions for Assembly of the Bolometer Unit

Place the sleeve over the post on the commercial block

and solder the dc lead to the post. Solder together the

block flange, waveguide section, and unit flange. Face

off both flanges, and drill screw and alignment holes, tap the

screw holes, in the unit flange. Grind the unit flange flat.

Assemble the unit binding post in the block flange. Secure

the block to the block flange with screws. Lay the block dc

lead in the groove in the block flange. Cut the dc lead to

length and solder to the unit binding post. Cover the

exposed joint with electrical grade room temperature cure silicon rubber. Fill the groove in the block flange with a mixture of powdered iron and low viscosity epoxy resin.

Epoxy resin is also used to hold the cover plates in place.

Conducting epoxy resin is used to calk the grooves in the block

flange. The block and block flange are covered with aluminized

polyester pressure-sensitive tape.
3. CALORIMETER OPERATION

The operation of the calorimeter requires a number of

items of equipment. -Figure 7 shows the waveguide components

used to supply microwave power. The components are listed

in table 4 and connections to the components are listed in

table 5. The accessory equipment is shown in figure 8 and

listed in table 6.

3.1. Measurement Sequence

The sequence followed in determining the effective

efficiency of a bolometer unit is as follows:

(1) Install the unit in the calorimeter, and

seal the calorimeter.

(2) Place the calorimeter in the water bath.

(3) Connect the appropriate calorimeter leads

to the bolometer bridge, the microvolt potentiometer,

and microwave WR15 waveguide line.

(4) Time is then allowed for the calorimeter to come to practical equilibrium with the water bath.

Practical equilibrium occurs about one and one half

hours after the calorimeter is placed in the bath.

The need for practical equilibration after the calorimeter

is placed in the water bath results from the lack of

exact equality of the bolometer unit and thermal reference

time constants, and from a difference in temperature

between the calorimeter and water bath.

7
(5) The bolometer bridge is then turned on. If the

practical equilibration time is known, the bolometer

bridge may be switched on immediately after the

calorimeter is placed in the bath, rather than waiting

for the thermopile output to reach a low value (i.e.

0.002 uV) • The klystron is turned on and locked on frequency. The microwave switch must be open to keep

power from the calorimeter.

(6) An interval of about 40 minutes is required for

thermal equilibrium between the unit and thermal

reference after a change in the power level to the

unit

.

(7) After equilibration, the thermopile voltage and

the voltage across the self-balancing bridge are noted.

(8) The microwave power is switched into the

calorimeter, and its level adjusted to give a nominal

V-/V-, ratio of 0.5. The microwave power stabilizer

used has a stability of 10 ppm per hour.

(9) The thermopile voltage increases, with about 40

minutes required to re-establish thermal equilibrium.

(10) The voltage data are taken.

(11) The microwave power is switched off.

(12) The thermopile voltage decreases, with about 40

minutes required for equilibration.
(13] The voltage data are taken.

(14) The data are reduced. Usually there is a small

drift (0.06%/Hr.) of the total bias power requirements of the bolometer due to long term drift in the

bolometer, therefore the dc data are averaged. This

drift does not represent a change in n , but only

instability in the bolometer element itself.

(15) The calorimeter is taken from the \vater bath, dried

off, the cover opened, and the unit removed.

4. ERROR ANALYSIS

The error analysis presented is similar to that in

[3]; except that the flange loss and isolation section

microwave loss measurements were made by the moving short

method [4] rather than the fixed short method [3].

The equation used to calculate the effective efficiency

(n ) of the bolometer unit is

1 - (W2 n = (i)

e

2 [i + b]/ ei - oyv^ 2

where V is the voltage across the self -balancing bolometer

bridge [5] and e is the thermopile voltage. The subscripts

1 and 2 denote respectively conditions of dc only, and dc

plus microwave power, absorbed in the thermistor. The term

(1 + b) is the correction for systematic errors in e^, the
thermopile voltage. The systematic errors and limits of

systematic uncertainty affecting e

2 are listed in table 7.

It is necessary to convert from the values of systematic

errors--power absorbed in unit walls, calorimeter flange,

thermal isolation section, and by microwave leakage - -which

are in percentage of microwave power to percentage of e~. The

converting multiplier used is 0.765, which is the ratio of

microwave power absorbed in the unit to the total power absorbed

in the unit, [0.75 + 0.75(1 - . 926) ] / [0 . 75 + 0.25 +

0.75(1 - 0.926)], where 0.75 is the microwave power in the

thermistor, 0.25 is the dc power in the thermistor, and 0.926

is the effective efficiency. This conversion is necessary

because the value of e

? is a function of total power absorbed

in the unit rather than a function of microwave power alone.

4.1. Nonproportionality of the Thermopile Voltage

This is a small error and it is assumed that it will be

similar to the values reported in reference [3] , which lists

a systematic error of + 0.00012 and limits of systematic

uncertainty of ± 0.01% of e

? for the WR28 calorimeter.

4.2. Bolometer Unit Walls

The microwave power absorbed in the waveguide between

the unit flange and the thermistor will have a greater effect

on the value of e

2 than power absorbed in the thermistor.

10
The greatest effect is near the flange. This is due to the

thermal resistance of the mount walls and the distributed

radiative and convective thermal leakage from the unit. The

thermopile sensitivity to dc power dissipated in a small

temporary test heater located at the flange was determined

to be greater than the thermopile sensitivity for dc power

absorbed in the thermistor by 1.71 of the latter. The loss

in the mount waveguide may be considered as being half way

between the flange and thermistor, and the microwave power

absorbed in the mount waveguide would thus have 0.851 too

great an effect on the thermopile voltage. The loss in the

waveguide is 1.5% of the microwave power absorbed in the

mount and thermistor. Therefore, the contribution to b is

- 0.0001, (0.015 x 0.0085 x 0.765) of e

2 with limits of

systematic uncertainty of ± 0.011 of e

?

.

4.3. Calorimeter Flange

A portion of the microwave power is absorbed in the

waveguide joint consisting of the unit flange and mating

calorimeter flange. If the joint loss is the same whether

the unit is being calibrated or being used, the joint loss

may be considered a part of the effective efficiency and not

a systematic error. The measurements made to date do not

indicate a significant difference between the calibration

and use joint losses. The combined uncertainty for the two

11
joint loss measurements is ± 0.11 of the incident power or

± 0.076% of e

2

.

4.4. Thermal Isolation Section

A portion of the microwave power is absorbed in the

waveguide lead to the bolometer unit. Only the loss from

the center of the thermal isolating waveguide section to the

calorimeter flange raises the value of e^ and constitutes

a systematic error [6]. The loss in this section was determined by a moving short method [4] . The loss for this

0.25 inch (0.635 cm) long section is 0.41 of the incident micro' wave power or 0.306% of e~. The uncertainty in the length of

the section is ± 0.005 inch (± 0.013 cm) and the uncertainty

in the value of the loss measurement is ± 0.11% of the incident

power. The sum of these uncertainties is ± 0.12% of the

incident power or ± 0.092% of e

?

.

4.5. Microvolt Potentiometer

The limits of systematic uncertainty for the ratio

e^/e, were calculated from calibration data for the microvolt

potentiometer, which is used to null and display the e values.

This limit is ± 0.0055% of e .

12
4.6. Environment Stability

The nonidentical twin geometry and lack of inner

shell increases the demands on the temperature stability

of the calorimeter environment. This increased thermal

stability is well within the capability of the precision

temperature-controlled water bath [7], [8] which has a stability during the measurement of ± lOuK, Based on the

calorimeter thermopile output after changing the bath

temperature by lOOOyK, the change in the thermopile output

due to a change of ± lOyK would be ± 0.00041 of a typical

e, value, which is negligible.

4.7. Lead Thermal Isolation

Although the calorimeter is immersed in a temperaturecontrolled water bath, its leads extend into the room air.

So changes in room temperature can effect the calorimeter

through its leads. Measurements made on the WR28 calorimeter

showed that the effect is small. A ± 1.5K change in room temperature would produce a calculated change of ± 0.000251

in e

2

.

4.8. Error Due to the Bridge and Voltmeter

Analysis of the bridge errors as applied to the

calorimeter measurement of n shows the errors to be one

e part per million or smaller and they are neglected.

13
The principal error in the determination of the dc power

in the thermistor is due to errors in the voltmeter used

to measure the voltage across the bridge. The worst case

error in the ratio V~/V, is 0.00661 of the ratio. To

determine the resulting error in n , the partial derivative

of n (equation 1) with respect to V~/V, was taken.

Substitution of typical values yielded an uncertainty in n

of ± 0.0004% which is negligible.

4.9. The Bolometer Units

Any microwave power that leaks from the unit would

constitute a systematic error because this leakage power

would not be accounted for either in the effective efficiency

or the reflected power from the unit. The commercial thermistor

block which was used in assembling the bolometer unit had

appreciable leakage around the dc lead. Consequently lossy

material was placed in the unit around the dc lead to reduce

the leakage. A measurement showed the leakage to be 0.01% of

the incident power or 0.00761 of e

?

, with uncertainty limits

of ± 0.00761 of e~. Typically, there is some convected and radiated thermal

energy transmitted out through the waveguide from the thermistor

bead. This thermal energy is not measured by the thermopile,

and if its magnitude changed with the addition of microwave

energy the change would cause a systematic error. The dc

14
resistance of the thermistor is maintained constant by the

self-balancing bolometer bridge. But theoretically, the

presence of microwave power can cause some change in the

surface temperature distribution of the bead. In previously

constructed NBS bolometer units the thermal leakage was confined inside the mount by thermal barriers placed across

the waveguide. This eliminated the potential error. Recent experimental evidence indicates that the change

in thermal radiation from a thermistor when microwave

power replaces 751 of the dc power in the thermistor is

less than 1% of the power in the thermistor. The thermal

power leaving the unit through the WR15 waveguide is 0.1% of

the thermistor power; which would indicate a possible

uncertainty of 0.001%, (0.1 x 0.01) which is negligible, and

indicates that thermal barriers are not necessary.

4.10. Imprecision

An estimate of the imprecision in the effective efficiency

measurement was made for the WR28 calorimeter [3], and is

assumed to be similar for the WR15 calorimeter. The estimated

3a limits for n are ± 0.05% of the effective efficiency.

4.11. Summary

The estimated 3a limits of the imprecision (random error)

in the measurement of the effective efficiency are ± 0.05%

of n

e

. 15
The systematic errors and their uncertainties are listed and totaled in table 7. The total estimated systematic

error is -0.00296 and the correction (1 + b) to e

2 is 0.99704.

The estimated limits of uncertainty in the above

systematic error are ± 0.203% of e

?

. To obtain the

corresponding estimated limits of systematic uncertainty

in the value of n , the partial derivative of n was taken

with respect to (1 + b) and typical values substituted to

obtain a multiplier of 1.106. The estimated limits to

the systematic uncertainty in the value of ri are therefore ± 0.23% of n . The total uncertainty (systematic +

random)J is ± 0.28% of n . e

16
5. REFERENCES

[1] Macpherson, A. C., and Kerns, D. M. , A microwave microcalorimeter, Rev. Sci. Instr. , vol. 26, No. 1, 27-33

(January 1955) .

[2] Engen, G. F., A refined X-band microwave microcalorimeter

,

J. Res. NBS, (U.S.), 63C, No. 1, 77-82 (1959).

[3] Harvey, M. E., Non-identical twin microwave calorimeter,

J. Res. NBS, to be published.

[4] Engen, G. F., An extension to the sliding short method of

connector and adaptor evaluation, J. Res. NBS, Sect. C,

Vol. 75C, 3-4, July-Dec, 1971.

[5] Larsen, N. T., and Clague, F. R. , The NBS type II power

measurement system, ISA, 712 (1970).

[6] Ginnings, D. C. and West, E. D., Heater lead problem in

calorimetry, Rev. Sci. Instr., vol. 35, No. 8, 965-967

(August 1964) .

[7] Larsen, N. T., 50 microdegree temperature controller,

Rev. Sci. Instr., vol. 39, No. 1, 1-12 (January 1968).

[8] Harvey, M. E., Precision temperature-controlled water

bath, Rev. Sci. Instr., vol. 39, No. 1, 13-18 (January

1968)

.

17
Table 1 Commercial Products for Calorimeter

Quantity Item

1 WR15 copper waveguide bent to J shape

1 Flange UG-385/U

2 Binding posts

1 No. 6 spaghetti tubing, 1/4 in. (0.64 cm) long

1 No . 6 Polyamide washer

2 No . 6 Brass washer

3 6-32 Brass nuts

1 Cable clamp, for 1/8 inch O.D. cable

1 No . 6 Solder lug

31 In. 14 gauge (AWG) stranded copper wire with

polytetrafluoro ethylene insulation

8 ft. Polytetrafluoroethylene tubing, size 18,

17 ft. 30 gauge (AWG) insulated magnetic wire

2 oz. Electrical grade room temperature cure silicone

rubber

1 ring 7/16" OD, 1/16" Dia. cross section, for seal

flange

1 ring 7/8" OD , 1/16" Dia. cross section, for seal

flange

3 ring 3/16" OD , 1/16" Dia. cross section, for lead

seals

3 ring 7/32" OD, 1/16" Dia. cross section, for lead

seals

1 ring 3/4" OD , 090" Dia. cross section, for stud

1 ring 4 1/2" OD , 3/16" Dia. cross section, for base

4 4-40 Sealing screws with ring

1 lb. Sodium hydroxide

1 lb. Low viscosity (900 cps) epoxy, solvent free, room

temperature cure

18
Table 1 (Continued)

Quantity Item

6 ft . 30 gauge (AWG) constantan wire (bare)

2 Jack for 0.02 inch Dia. pin, 0.18 inch long. 0.05

inch Dia.

4 0-80 Round head screws, 1/2 inch long

4 2-56 Binding head screws, 1/4 inch long

19
Table 2 Commercial Products for Bolometer Units

Quantity Item

2 WR15, copper waveguide, one inch long

2 Commercial block Hitachi*, Model M2521 or equivalent

4 2-56, Flathead brass screw, 1/4 inch long

2 1-72, Round head brass screw, 1/8 inch long

2 24 gauge (AWG) , Insulated magnet wire, 2 inch

5 (cm) long

1 oz. Silver filled conducting epoxy

1 ft. 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide aluminized polyester pressure

sensitive tape

1 oz. Powdered iron

Size 18, Tetrafluoroethylene tubing, 0.13 inches

(0 . 33 cm) long

* At this writing this is the only known broad band commercial

block available in WR15 waveguide size. In no case does this

identification imply recommendation or endorsement by the

National Bureau of Standards, nor does it imply that the component identified is necessarily the best available for the purpose

20
Table 3 Components of Lead-in Seals

No . on Figure 6 Component

1 Conduit spacer

2 Thermistor lead

3 Thermopile lead

4 Conduit seals

5 J shaped waveguide

6 Conduits

7 Conduit fittings

8 rings

9 Waveguide seal

10 Seal flange

21
Table 4 Components to Supply Microwave Power to

WR15 Calorimeter

No . on Figure 7 Component

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9 10

11

12

Klystron

Water Jacket

10 dB Directional Coupler

Wavemeter

Crystal Detector

Isolator

Variable Attenuator

Power Leveler

Switch

90° E plane bend

Load

Waveguide Stands

22
Table 5 Connections to Microwave Components

A Klystron Ground

B To klystron power supply via Pound frequency stablizer

C To cooling water and drain

D Crystal current to Pound stabilizer

E Power leveler current from Type II power bridge

D Microwave power to Calorimeter

23
Table 6 Accessory Equipment

1 . Klystron power supply

2 Pound Stablizer

3. Photocell Galvanometer Amplifier

4. Secondary Galvanometer

5. AC Voltmeter

6. NBS Type II Power Measurement System

7. Digital Voltmeter

8. NBS precision temperature-controlled water bath

9

.

Microvolt potentiometer

24
Table 7 Systematic Errors and Limits of Systematic Uncertainty

Limits of

Systematic

Systematic Uncertainty

Error b I of e.

Thermopile Nonproportionality + 0.00012 ± 0.011

Unit Walls - 0.0001 ± 0.011

Calorimeter Flange ± 0.076%

Thermal Isolation Section - 0.00306 ± 0.0921

Microvolt Potentiometer ± 0.00551

Environmental Stability ± 0.0004%

Lead Tempering ± 0.00025%

Microwave Leakage from

Bolometer Unit + 0.000076 ± 0.0076%

Change in Thermal Leakage

from the Waveguide ± .001%

TOTALS - 0.00296 ± 0.203%

25
Figure 1. WR15 calorimeter

26
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33

form NBS-114A (i-7i) U.S. DEPT. OF COMM. BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA

SHEET

1. PUBLICATION OR REPORT NO. Technical Note 618

2. Gov't Accession No.

3. Recipient's Accession No.

4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE

WR15 Microwave Calorimeter and Bolometer Unit

5. Publication Date

6. Performing Organization Code

7. AUTHOR(S)

Morris E. Harvey

8. Performing Organization

10. Project/Task/Work Unit No. Project No. 2725171

9. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS, Boulder Labs

.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Boulder, Colorado 80302

1 1. Contract/Grant No.

12. Sponsoring Organization Name and Address 13. Type of Report & Period Covered Final(l/1/71-12/31/71)

14. Sponsoring Agency Code

15. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES

16. ABSTRACT (A 200-word or less factual summaty of most significant information. If document includes a significant bibliography or literature survey, mention it here.)

A microwave calorimeter which serves as the National Bureau of Standards

(NBS) standard for power measurements in the frequency range 50 to 75 GHz has been completed and evaluated recently. Included here are descriptions of the principal changes in the calorimeter and bolometer unit from the WR28 models which

are of similar design. Also included are construction details, accessary equipment,

operation procedure, and error analysis. An improved thermal isolating waveguide

section and calorimeter flange are features of this calorimeter. A careful error analysis permits the determination of the effective efficiency

of a standard bolometer unit to estimated limits of systematic uncertainty of + 0.23%. The estimated 3cr limit of random uncertainty is 0.05%.

17. KEY WORDS (Alphabetical order, separated by semicolons) Calorimeter; microwave; power; standard.

18.' AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

[X] UNLIMITED.

I I FOR OFFICIAL DISTRIBUTION. DO NOT RELEASE

TO NTIS.

19. SECURITY CLASS

(THIS REPORT)

UNCLASSIFIED

20. SECURITY CLASS

(THIS PAGE)

UNCLASSIFIED

21. NO. OF PAGES

22. Price

.75

USCOMM-DC 66244-P71



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