The role of the international prototype of the kilogram after redefinition of the International System of Units

Abstract

Since 1889, the international prototype of the kilogram has served to define the unit of mass in what is now known as the International System of Units (SI). This definition, which continues to serve mass metrology well, is an anachronism for twenty-first century physics. Indeed, the kilogram will no doubt be redefined in terms of a physical constant, such as the Planck constant. As a practical matter, linking the quantum world to the macroscopic world of mass metrology has, and remains, challenging although great progress has been made. The international prototype or, more likely, a modern ensemble of reference standards, may yet have a role to play for some time after redefinition, as described in this paper.