The Comité international des poids et mesures (CIPM) has projected a major revision of the International System of Units (SI) in which all of the base units will be defined by fixing the values of fundamental constants of nature. In preparation for this we have carried out a new, low-uncertainty determination of the Boltzmann constant, k B , in terms of which the SI unit of temperature, the kelvin, can be re-defined. We have evaluated k B from exceptionally accurate measurements of the speed of sound in argon gas which can be related directly to the mean molecular kinetic energy, 3 2 k B T . Our new estimate is k B = 1.380 651 56 (98) × 10 −23 J K −1 with a relative standard uncertainty u R = 0.71 × 10 −6 .

Since 1999, when the first high temperature fixed-points based on the metal–carbon eutectic phase transitions were realized, more than 60 papers have been published on this topic. Eutectic based fixed-points are already being considered as secondary reference points for the International Temperature Scale and have been introduced into industrial laboratories. This rapid progress has been possible through the combined effort of scientists around the world, from national metrology institutes, universities and industry. It has been proposed that these fixed-points should be officially adopted as a way to improve the realization and dissemination of temperature scales above the silver point. In radiometry, the availability of stable high temperature fixed-points will give greater flexibility and at some wavelengths the potential for greater accuracy for spectral radiance and irradiance scale realization. This paper summarizes the major progress in eutectic research so far.

The thermodynamic temperature of the point of inflection of the melting transition of Re-C, Pt-C and Co-C eutectics has been determined to be 2747.84 ± 0.35 K, 2011.43 ± 0.18 K and 1597.39 ± 0.13 K, respectively, and the thermodynamic temperature of the freezing transition of Cu has been determined to be 1357.80 ± 0.08 K, where the ± symbol represents 95% coverage. These results are the best consensus estimates obtained from measurements made using various spectroradiometric primary thermometry techniques by nine different national metrology institutes. The good agreement between the institutes suggests that spectroradiometric thermometry techniques are sufficiently mature (at least in those institutes) to allow the direct realization of thermodynamic temperature above 1234 K (rather than the use of a temperature scale) and that metal-carbon eutectics can be used as high-temperature fixed points for thermodynamic temperature dissemination. The results directly support the developing mise en pratique for the definition of the kelvin to include direct measurement of thermodynamic temperature.

Research into high-temperature fixed points above 1,100 • C has made significant progress since they were first reported in 1999. In particular, it has been established that single cells are repeatable at the sub-50 mK level, and intra-cell reproducibility at the 100 mK level has been demonstrated even at temperatures as high as 2,500 • C. The fixed points have been used to compare temperature and radiometry scales over a wide temperature range, and are being developed and established as secondary references for thermocouple calibrations. However, before they can be fully accepted as primary temperature references, much work remains to be done, namely:(1) Establishment of long-term stability of the fixed-point temperature; (2) Development of robust procedures for the reliable construction of the fixed-point cells (to ensure routine intra-cell reproducibility of 100 mK); (3) Demonstration of long-term robustness of the fixed-point cells; (4) Assignment of thermodynamic temperatures to a selected set of fixed points; (5) Agreement and acceptance of these temperature values by the CCT; (6) Agreed methods on how to take full utility of these new fixed points into any future International Temperature Scale (ITS)-or the current ITS-90

Below the freezing point of silver, radiation thermometers are generally calibrated by implementing the multi-point interpolation method using blackbody measurements at three or more calibration points, rather than the ITS-90 extrapolation technique. The interpolation method eliminates the need to measure the spectral responsivity and provides greater accuracy at the longer wavelengths required below the silver point. This article identifies all the sources of uncertainty associated with the interpolation method, in particular, those related to the reference blackbody temperatures (either variable-temperature or fixed-point blackbodies) and to the measured thermometer signals at these points. Estimates are given of the 'normal' and 'best' uncertainties currently achievable. A model of the thermometer response is used to propagate all the uncertainties at the reference points and provide a total uncertainty at any temperature within the calibration range. The multi-point method has the effect of constraining the total uncertainty over this range, unlike the ITS-90 technique for which the uncertainties propagate as T 2 . This article is a joint effort of the working group on radiation thermometry of the Consultative Committee for Thermometry (CCT), summarizing the knowledge and experience of all experts in this field.