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Terry Quinn is an experimental physicist who has worked in a number of fields of measurements science: temperature, optical radiometry, mass and fundamental constants. From 1988 to 2003 he was Director of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures, Sevres, France and was much involved in the organization of international metrology. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of London. This is the story of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures-from its origins in the 1860s until today. It highlightes the role of key individuals in the development of the institution and the path from artifact standards of the metre and the kilogram to units based on the fundamental constants of physics. Zusammenfassung The International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) is currently implementing the greatest change ever in the world's system of weights and measures it is redefining the kilogram, the final artefact standard, and reorganizing the system of international units. This book tells the inside story of what led to these changes, from the events surrounding the founding of the BIPM in 1875 a landmark in the history of international cooperation to the present. Ittraces not only the evolution of the science, but also the story of the key individuals and events. The BIPM was the first international scientific laboratory. Founded in 1875 by the Metre Convention, its original tasks were to conserve the new international standards of the metre and the kilogram, to carry out calibrations for Member States and undertake research to advance measurement science. The book is based on the substantial archive of the BIPM which, from the very beginning, recounts the many discussions and arguments first as to whether and how such an institute should be created andin due course, how over the next one hundred and thirty years it should develop. Despite many national and personal rivalries, the institute actually created was admirably suited to its declared tasks. In the years and decades that followed, the scientific work of the small group of men who made upits first staff was of a very high order. One of the early Directors received the Nobel Prize for physics in 1920 for his discovery of invar. The international governing Board of the institute, the International Committee of Weights and Measures, has guided the institute from one charged with the conservation of the prototype artefacts to one now at the centre of world metrology and preparing for the redefinition of the last remaining artifact, the kilogram, in terms of a fixed value for one ofthe fundamental constants of physics, the Planck constant...
Klappentext
This is the story of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures--from its origins in the 1860s until today. It highlightes the role of key individuals in the development of the institution and the path from artifact standards of the metre and the kilogram to units based on the fundamental constants of physics.
Inhalt
Introduction Chapter 1: The origins of the Metre Convention 1851 to 1869 Why? The need for international agreement on measurement standards The great Exhibition of 1851 in London The 1855 Paris Universal Exhibition and Statistical Congress The Universal Exhibition Paris 1867; a time of political tension in Europe The unit of length for geodesy and the original definition of the metre The International Conferences on Geodesy, Berlin 1864 and 1867 Reactions from France: the Bureau des Longitudes Academy of Science of Saint Petersburg Reaction from the Academie des Sciences Chapter 2: The creation of the International Metre Commission 1869 Creation of the Metre Commission The members of the French Section of the Metre Commission The first meetings of the French Section What should be the origin of the new international metre? The first meeting of the Metre Commission, August 1870 Chapter 3: The International Metre Commission, meetings of 1872/73 The order of things from 1869 to 1875 The Committee for Preparatory Research April 1872 The International Metre Commission September October 1872 Chapter 4: The casting of 1874 and the first steps in the fabrication of the new metric standards Great Britain decides not to join The problem of melting and casting platinum Preparations for the Conservatoire casting The casting of 250 kilograms of platinum-iridium on 13 May 1874: the alloy of the Conservatoire Approval of the Permanent Committee First indications that the alloy of the Conservatoire was contaminated with iron and ruthenium To proceed regardless Chapter 5: The Diplomatic Conference of the Metre 1875 The first sessions of the Conference The Special Commission First drafts of the Convention Attempts at a compromise proposal The opinion of the French Government The first vote on the proposals The 12 and 15 April sessions of the Diplomatic Conference The signing of the Metre Convention on 20 May 1875 Chapter 6: The creation of the BIPM and the beginning of the construction of the new metric prototypes; problems with the French Section The first meeting of the International Committee for Weights and Measures The founding members of the International Committee Choosing the site for the International Bureau, the Pavillon de Breteuil Decisions on the main instruments for the new institute Progress between April 1875 and April 1876; design for laboratory building Difficult relations between the International Committee and the French Section First meeting of the International Committee at the Pavillon de Breteuil; the Committee refuses the 1874 alloy A new railway line and improved relations with the French Section Chapter 7: 1879 to 1889, the first decade of scientific work at the International Bureau Progress with metres and instruments Publications, official and scientific and the library Elections to the International Committee Construction of the new prototypes, the metres Construction of the new prototypes, the kilograms More on the metres Good relations with the French Section The measurement of temperature, the 1887 hydrogen scale A first unsuccessful step towards electrical standards at the BIPM Chapter 8: New Member States and the first General Conference on Weights and Measures, 1889 New States join including Great Britain Time to call a General Conference? Final acts of the French Section The first General Conference on Weights and Measures September 1889 The formal adoption of the new metric prototypes The distribution of national prototypes In the end, who was right about the alloy of the Conservatoire? Chapter 9: The development of the scientific work at the BIPM, the General Conferences of 1895 and 1901 More new scientific work Thermometry The density of water The length of the metre in terms of the wavelength of light Calibrations Staff health problems and building repairs Members of the International Committee The toise and the Imperial Standard Yard The second General Conference and the BIPM pension scheme and reserve fund The third General Conference: the BIPM too small and fragile? Chapter 10: The creation