The Euramet Metrology Research Programme Project: Implementing the new kelvin (InK)

Currently almost all temperature measurement around the world is based on traceability to a defined scale, either the International Temperature Scale of 1990, ITS-90 or, below 1 K, the Provisional Low Temperature Scale of 2000, PLTS-2000. These scales are empirical in basis, reliant upon a set of fixed points whose temperatures were determined a priori by primary thermometry. However recent technical advances in temperature metrology, the advent of the evolving mise en pratique for the definition of the kelvin (MeP-K) and the forthcoming kelvin redefinition in terms of a fixed value of the Boltzmann constant provide a unique opportunity to fundamentally change the practice of temperature measurement. In the light of this a European Metrology Research Programme project, known as Implementing the new kelvin (InK), was established; the first phase of which was from Oct 2012 to September 2015. The project has 13 partners and 8 collaborators/universities from around the world working in the field of primary thermometry. The research to be performed in the InK project has two main thrusts:  The development of primary thermometry methods that both challenge and supplant the defined scales at high (>1000 C) and low (