Electronic measurement of the Boltzmann constant with a quantum-voltage-calibrated Johnson-noise thermometer

Samuel Benz, D. Rod White, JiFeng Qu, Horst Rogalla, Weston Tew

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

23 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Currently, the CODATA value of the Boltzmann constant is dominated by a single gas-based thermometry measurement with a relative standard uncertainty of 1.8×10−6 [P.J. Mohr, B.N. Taylor, D.B. Newell, CODATA recommended values of the fundamental physical constants: 2006, Rev. Mod. Phys. 80 (2008) 633–730]. This article describes an electronic approach to measuring the Boltzmann constant that compares Johnson noise from a resistor at the water triple point with a pseudo-random noise generated using quantized ac-voltage synthesis. Measurement of the ratio of the two power spectral densities links Boltzmann's constant to Planck's constant. Recent experiments and detailed uncertainty analysis indicate that Boltzmann's constant can presently be determined using Johnson noise with a relative standard uncertainty below 10×10−6, which would support both historic and new determinations.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)849-858
Number of pages10
JournalComptes rendus physique
Volume10
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2010

Keywords

  • Temperature
  • Boltzmann constant
  • Josephson arrays
  • METIS-271420
  • IR-79825
  • Johnson noise
  • Noise thermometry

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