Comptes Rendus
The new International System of Units / Le nouveau Système international d'unités
Determinations of the Boltzmann constant
Comptes Rendus. Physique, The new International System of Units / Le nouveau Système international d’unités, Volume 20 (2019) no. 1-2, pp. 129-139.

We review measurements of the Boltzmann constant, k, the value of which is soon to be fixed at exactly 1.380649×1023 J⋅K−1 for the future revised Système international of units. In addition to a description of the theoretical background and of diverse experimental techniques (acoustic thermometry, Johnson noise thermometry, dielectric constant gas thermometry, and Doppler broadened molecular spectroscopy), the article highlights the decisive role of ab initio calculations of the thermophysical properties of gases, especially helium-4. Perspectives for improvements in thermometry are outlined in the wake of the new definition.

Nous passons en revue des mesures récentes de la constante de Boltzmann, k, dont la valeur sera bientôt figée à 1,380649×1023 J⋅K−1 dans le cadre du nouveau Système international d'unités. Au-delà d'une description des éléments théoriques et de diverses techniques expérimentales (thermométrie acoustique, thermométrie à bruit de Johnson, thermométrie à constante diélectrique d'un gaz et élargissement Doppler en spectroscopie moléculaire), cet article met l'accent sur le rôle clé des calculs ab initio des propriétés thermophysiques des gaz, notamment celles de l'hélium 4. Sont également mentionnées des perspectives pour des améliorations en thermométrie dans le sillage de la nouvelle définition.

Published online:
DOI: 10.1016/j.crhy.2018.11.007
Keywords: Boltzmann constant, Primary thermometry, International System of Units (SI)
Mots-clés : Constante de Boltzmann, Thermométrie primaire, Système international d'unités

Laurent Pitre 1; Mark D. Plimmer 1; Fernando Sparasci 1; Marc E. Himbert 1

1 LNE-CNAM, 61, rue du Landy, 93210 La Plaine-Saint-Denis, France
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Laurent Pitre; Mark D. Plimmer; Fernando Sparasci; Marc E. Himbert. Determinations of the Boltzmann constant. Comptes Rendus. Physique, The new International System of Units / Le nouveau Système international d’unités, Volume 20 (2019) no. 1-2, pp. 129-139. doi : 10.1016/j.crhy.2018.11.007. https://comptes-rendus.academie-sciences.fr/physique/articles/10.1016/j.crhy.2018.11.007/

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