Discover
/
Article

New Measurements Standards for 1990

AUG 01, 1989
On New Year’s Day, new practical reference standards for the volt and the ohm will take effect worldwide. Both will be based on highly reproducible quantum effects rather than artifacts. The practical temperature scale will also change.

DOI: 10.1063/1.881176

Barry N. Taylor

By international agreement, new practical reference standards for the volt and the ohm, based respectively on the Josephson effect and the quantum Hall effect, will be adopted worldwide on 1 January 1990. Until now, national standards laboratories have been using wirewound resistors as practical reference standards for the ohm. Practical reference standards for the volt, on the other hand, have been based on the Josephson effect since the early 1970s. But four different such standards are in use in different countries, and their values all differ significantly from the volt as defined in the Système International d’Unités (SI), the internationally accepted system of measurement units.

This article is only available in PDF format

References

  1. 1. B. N. Taylor, J. Res. Natl. Inst. Standards Technol. 94, 95 (1989).https://doi.org/JRITEF

  2. 2. T. J. Quinn, Metrologia 26, 69 (1989).https://doi.org/MTRGAU

  3. 3. D. T. Goldman, R. J. Bell, eds., The International System of Units (SI), Special Publ. 330, US Natl. Bureau of Standards (July 1986).

  4. 4. J.‐S. Tsai, A. K. Jain, J. E. Lukens, Phys. Rev. Lett. 51, 316 (1983). https://doi.org/PRLTAO
    Erratum, J.‐S. Tsai, A. K. Jain, J. E. Lukens, Phys. Rev. Lett. 51, 1109 (1983).https://doi.org/PRLTAO

  5. 5. F. Delahaye, Metrologia 26, 63 (1989).https://doi.org/MTRGAU

  6. 6. B. N. Taylor, T. J. Witt, Metrologia 26, 47 (1989).https://doi.org/MTRGAU

  7. 7. J. Q. Shields, R. F. Dziuba, H. P. Layer, IEEE Trans. Instrum. Meas. IM‐38, 249 (1989).https://doi.org/IEIMAO

  8. 8. E. R. Cohen, B. N. Taylor, Rev. Mod. Phys. 59, 1121 (1987).https://doi.org/RMPHAT

More about the Authors

Barry N. Taylor. National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Related content
/
Article
Although motivated by the fundamental exploration of the weirdness of the quantum world, the prizewinning experiments have led to a promising branch of quantum computing technology.
/
Article
As conventional lithium-ion battery technology approaches its theoretical limits, researchers are studying alternative architectures with solid electrolytes.
/
Article
Bottom-up self-assembly is a powerful approach to engineering at small scales. Special strategies are needed to formulate components that assemble into predetermined shapes with precise sizes.
/
Article
The polymath scientist leaves behind a monumental legacy in both the scientific and political realms.
This Content Appeared In
pt-cover_1989_08.jpeg

Volume 42, Number 8

Get PT in your inbox

Physics Today - The Week in Physics

The Week in Physics" is likely a reference to the regular updates or summaries of new physics research, such as those found in publications like Physics Today from AIP Publishing or on news aggregators like Phys.org.

Physics Today - Table of Contents
Physics Today - Whitepapers & Webinars
By signing up you agree to allow AIP to send you email newsletters. You further agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.