Digest of the Symposium on Optical Fiber Measurements sponsored by NIST and the IEEE. Includes 44 papers, with strong international participation. The majority of papers are on dispersion, components and nonlinear optics. Dispersion is the largest category, containing 2 sessions of polarization-mode dispersion, a session of chromatic dispersion and a session for group-delay measurements on fiber Bragg gratings. Component papers include grating metrology as well as receiver and amplifier characterization. Nonlinear measurements fill 2 sessions with measurements of nonlinear coefficient and effective area. A full session of papers relates to novel (engineered) fibers).

Applied Photometry, Radiometry, and Measurements of Optical Losses reviews and analyzes physical concepts of radiation transfer, providing quantitative foundation for the means of measurements of optical losses, which affect propagation and distribution of light waves in various media and in diverse optical systems and components. The comprehensive analysis of advanced methodologies for low-loss detection is outlined in comparison with the classic photometric and radiometric observations, having a broad range of techniques examined and summarized: from interferometric and calorimetric, resonator and polarization, phase-shift and ring-down decay, wavelength and frequency modulation to pulse separation and resonant, acousto-optic and emissive - subsequently compared to direct and balancing methods for studying free-space and polarization optics, fibers and waveguides. The material is focused on applying optical methods and procedures for evaluation of transparent, reflecting, scattering, absorbing, and aggregated objects, and for determination of power and energy parameters of radiation and color properties of light.

Introduces the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), based in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Includes NIST news and general information, technology program, manufacturing extension partnership, laboratory programs, measurement services, campus information, and other sites. Provides information on the Baldrige Quality Program. Posts contact information via e-mail, telephone and fax numbers, and mailing address. Notes that NIST is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce's Technology Administration.