A new 75–110 GHz primary power standard with reduced thermal mass

Primary power standards are required to provide traceability for measurements. NPL has recently built a new primary power standard for use in the 75 GHz to 110 GHz band. Compared to NPL´s older standard (which has been used for several decades) the new system has a reduced thermal mass and improved thermal isolation. This gives slightly reduced overall uncertainties and an improvement in usability. Improvements in manufacturing technique offer the promise of using a similar design in the 110 GHz to 170 GHz band and work on a calorimeter for this band has begun.