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Acoustic Resonator Experiments at the Triple Point of Water: First Results for the Boltzmann Constant and Remaining Challenges

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Abstract

We report on two sets of isothermal acoustic measurements made with argon close to the triple point of water using a 50 mm radius, thin-walled, diamond-turned quasisphere. Our two isotherms yielded values for the Boltzmann constant, k B, which differ by 0.9 parts in 106, and have an average value of k B = (1.380 649 6 ± 0.000 004 3) × 10−23J · K−1. The relative uncertainty is 3.1 parts in 106, and the average value is 0.58 parts in 106 below the 2006 CODATA value (Mohr et al. Rev Mod Phys 80:633, 2008), and so the values are consistent within their combined (k = 1) uncertainties.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. NPL, Teddington, TW11 0LW, UK

    Gavin Sutton, Robin Underwood & Michael de Podesta

  2. LNE-INM/Cnam, 61 Rue du Landy, 93210, La Plaine-Saint-Denis, Paris, France

    Laurent Pitre

  3. IRMM, Retieseweg 111, 2440, Geel, Belgium

    Staf Valkiers

Authors
  1. Gavin Sutton
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  2. Robin Underwood
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  3. Laurent Pitre
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  4. Michael de Podesta
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  5. Staf Valkiers
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Correspondence to Michael de Podesta.

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Sutton, G., Underwood, R., Pitre, L. et al. Acoustic Resonator Experiments at the Triple Point of Water: First Results for the Boltzmann Constant and Remaining Challenges. Int J Thermophys 31, 1310–1346 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10765-010-0722-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10765-010-0722-z

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