Realization of the unit of luminous intensity at the HUT

Abstract

A description is presented of an upgraded trap-detector-based realization of the units of luminous intensity (candela) and illuminance (lux) at the Helsinki University of Technology (HUT). The realization is accomplished using a reference photometer, a light source and a distance-measurement system. A thorough characterization is presented of the reference photometer, consisting of a reflection trap detector, a temperature-controlled V(λ) filter and a high-precision aperture. The maintenance of the units is described. An updated uncertainty budget of the realization is given. Two of the three main uncertainty components of our earlier realizations have been significantly decreased. The uncertainty analysis indicates a relative expanded uncertainty of 2.2 × 10-3 for the realization of the candela and 1.8 × 10-3 for that of the lux. The HUT has participated in three international measurement comparisons, whose results are reviewed. According to the results, the HUT candela deviates by +4.0 × 10-3 from the candela of the Swedish National Testing and Research Institute with an expanded uncertainty of 10-2, -2.7 × 10-3 from that of the National Physical Laboratory (UK) with an expanded uncertainty of 5.6 × 10-3 and -3.3 × 10-3 from the world mean with an expanded uncertainty of 5.9 × 10-3.