Photometry
Photometry is the measurement of visible light as perceived by humans. Our current focus is on increasing the accuracy of the energy efficiency measurements of novel light sources, such as LEDs and OLEDs.
Metrology Research Institute
Metrology Research Institute focuses on optical radiation measurements and related activities.
Light is everywhere around us in the form of sunlight, artificial lighting and signaling. Most electrical equipment use either visible or infrared radiation for signaling, displays, sensing, data read-out, or digital communication. Colour is one of the most significant properties in consumer products.
Metrology research of optical radiation measurements is divided into three branches:
- Radiometry deals with characteristics of light sources and detectors
- Photometry studies light as humans see it, and
- Spectrophotometry investigates optical components as well as the optical properties of materials.
Some of the facilities, developed in the laboratory, are at world-leading level, when comparing accuracy, compactness, and operating costs. The group's research concentrates on electronics, modern optics and optical radiation measurements.
Metrology Research Institute is a joint laboratory between Aalto University and MIKES. It is involved in many national and international projects. Most of the research in the laboratory is currently carried out within the frameworks of EURAMET (European Association for Metrology) EPM (European Partnership for Metrology, 2021-2027), EMPIR (European Metrology Programme for Innovation and Research, 2014-2020), and EMRP (European Metrology Research Programme 2009-2013).
The Institute is the national standards laboratory for optical quantities in Finland, maintaining national standards of optical quantities and carrying out calibrations at the highest level. It has self-declared ISO 17025 compliance, participating in intercomparisons of CCPR (Consultative Commitee for Photometry and Radiometry) of BIPM (Bureau International de Poids et Mesures).
The research group is led by Professor Erkki Ikonen. See our detailed project descriptions for information about specific contact persons for each activity.
Research areas
Find out more about the key research areas of the Metrology Research Institute. The pages contain information about our latest projects. For information about our older projects see our Annual Reports Database.
Radiometry
Radiometry deals with techniques for measuring electromagnetic radiation, in the form of ultraviolet radiation, visible light, and infrared radiation.
Spectrophotometry
Spectrophotometry focuses on measuring the amount of light that a sample or an object absorbs or reflects as a function of wavelength using an instrument known as a spectrophotometer.
Electrical instrumentation
Off-the-shelf measurement equipment are not always available, and dedicated measurement devices are often built at Metrology Research Institute.
Group members
Latest publications
More information on our research in the Aalto research portal.
More information about us
The Metrology Research Institute is the Finnish National Standards Laboratory for optical quantities. We offer various radiometric, photometric and spectrophotometric calibrations.
MRI Doctors' club gathers together doctors, who have graduated from the laboratory during its existence.
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