Evolution of Microwave Spectroscopy at the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

This paper describes the beginning and evolution of microwave rotational spectroscopic research starting in 1954 at the National Bureau of Standards (NBS), located at that time in Washington, DC, through the present at NIST in Gaithersburg, MD. David Lide was hired in 1954 to start this research employing Stark modulated waveguide septum cells. When Donald R.

Critical data for critical needs.

Various types of scientific and technical data are required for the solution of key societal problems such as energy supply, environmental quality, and industrial productivity. Ensuring the quality of these data bases is essential. Modern computer and telecommunications technology offers opportunities for major improvements in the dissemination of data, but data management must be given a higher priority by the scientific community, industry, and government.

Measurements on the molecular nitrogen pulsed laser.

Accurate wavelength measurements of the pulsed laser emission from the nitrogen molecule have been made. About one hundred new stimulated emission lines which belong to the first and second positive systems were obtained and identified as to rotational quantum number. The relative intensities of the laser lines in the rotational band spectrum are analyzed.