On the redefinition of the kilogram and ampere in terms of fundamental physical constants
S.G. Karshenboim
The State Research Center of the Russian Federation ‘D.I. Mendeleyev All-Russian Institute for Metrology’, Moskovsky pr. 19, St. Petersburg, 190005, Russian Federation
In the summer of 2005, a meeting of the Consultative
Committee for Units of the International Committee on
Weights and Measures took place. One of the topics discussed
at the meeting was a possible redefinition of the kilogram in
terms of fundamental physical constants — a question of relevance to a wide circle of specialists, from school teachers to
physicists performing research in a great variety of fields. In this
paper, the current situation regarding this question is briefly
reviewed and its discussion at the Consultative Committee for
Units and other bodies involved is covered. Other issues related
to the International System of Units (SI) and broached at the
meeting are also discussed.
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