Business Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011 segment division year month	Sep. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2010
Business Segment Information
Number of operating segments (in segments)			5
Number of divisions (in divisions)			5
Revenue:
Product and service revenue between reportable segments	$ (3.9)	$ (2.7)	$ (11.5)	$ (8.1)
Total revenue	418.4	310.2	1,176.6	888.8
Operating Income (Loss):
Total operating income	37.5	39.3	101.9	104.1
Assets:
Total assets	1,670.4		1,670.4		1,549.8
Scientific Instruments
Revenue:
Total revenue	394.6	290.5	1,108.3	835.7
Operating Income (Loss):
Total operating income	41.3	40.4	107.3	108.5
Assets:
Total assets	1,630.9		1,630.9		1,515.8
Energy and Supercon Technologies
Revenue:
Total revenue	27.7	22.4	79.8	61.2
Operating Income (Loss):
Total operating income	(3.3)	(0.8)	(3.6)	(3.0)
Assets:
Total assets	105.9		105.9		84.4
Corporate, eliminations and other
Operating Income (Loss):
Total operating income	(0.5)	(0.3)	(1.8)	(1.4)
Assets:
Total assets	$ (66.4)		$ (66.4)		$ (50.4)