One of the greatest challenges in electrical metrology is to build a quantum current standard of comparable accuracy to the existing standards for voltage and resistance.

This would enable a self-consistency check to be made, known as the metrological triangle experiment. So far, efforts to develop a quantum standard of current have centred on devices which transport single electrons. However, it is difficult to make these devices produce sufficient current to close the metrological triangle. Recently, an alternative method based on superconducting nanowires has been proposed. By exploiting the properties of the superconducting state, it might be possible to produce a high enough current to close the metrological triangle.

Carol Webster has been at NPL with the Quantum Detection group since 2002. Initially, she worked on single photon detection using nanoscale SQUIDs and a primary thermometer known as the 'Quantum Roulette Noise Thermometer'.

Prior to that, she studied the magnetic structure and dynamics of rare-earth oxides using neutron scattering during her DPhil at Oxford University. Her current research focuses on the application of superconducting nanowires to quantum current standards, but she is also interested in the study of macroscopic quantum tunnelling in molecular nanomagnets and the metrological applications of superconducting resonators.