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TOOLS & INSTRUMENTS

# Missile defense transfer radiometer (MDXR)

The Missile Defense transfer Radiometer (MDXR) is a cryogenic transfer radiometer for providing calibrations of collimated infrared beams in users' cryo-vacuum test facilities against the NIST primary optical power standards. The MDXR has both a filter radiometer and a cryogenic Fourier transform spectrometer (Cryo-FTS), both of which operate in vacuum at a temperature below 20 kelvin, and interfaces to customer chambers through an end flange. The Cryo-FTS provides continuous spectral coverage from 4 μm to 20 μm. An onboard absolute cryogenic radiometer (ACR) provides spectrally integrated power measurements down to a noise floor of approximately 3.5 pW. An onboard 7 cm collimator and cryogenic blackbody serve as a stability monitor and a spectral calibration source for the Cryo-FTS. The MDXR has been used multiple times at a variety of facilities since it was first operational in May 2010.

## Specifications/Capabilities

                    - Measure absolute power with onboard ACR.
                    - Monitor and calibrate its own spectral throughput with onboard blackbody calibration source and 7 cm collimator.
                    - Fourier-transform spectrometer with spectral resolution of 0.85 cm -1  from 4 μm to 20 μm.
                    - Measure collimated beam with spectral irradiance input levels between 10 -15  W/cm 2 /μm and 10 -9  W/cm 2 /μm.
                    - Spectrally resolve beam over IR wavelengths from 2 μm to 30 μm with variable bandpass filters.
                    - Evaluate linear polarization of collimated beams.
                    - Easily transported with support equipment.
                    - Self-contained vacuum and cryogenic systems for operation external to test chamber being evaluated.

Optical / photometry / laser metrology

## Organizations

                          - NIST Headquarters
                            - Laboratory Programs
                              - Physical Measurement Laboratory
                                - Sensor Science Division
                                  - Remote Sensing Group

## Details

## Contact

                    -  Solomon I Woods  solomon.woods@nist.gov      (301) 975-2382   
                    -  Timothy M. Jung  timothy.jung@nist.gov      (301) 975-2330   

                    -  Adriaan Carter  adriaan.carter@nist.gov      (301) 975-4765   

## Related Tools & Instruments

BMDO transfer radiometer (BXR)

Low background infrared (LBIR) facility

## Related Projects

Transfer radiometers and reference detectors

## Related Publications

Calibration of IR Test Chambers with the Missile Defense Transfer Radiometer

Calibration and Deployment of a New NIST Transfer Radiometer for Broadband and Spectral Calibration of Space Chambers (MDXR)

Cryogenic Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer from 4 to 20 Micrometers

### HEADQUARTERS

301-975-2000

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