Chasing Precision: How Fundamental Constants Are Determined
An adage among scientists and engineers says that before you conclude nothing happened, make sure it was plugged in, turned on, and calibrated. This seems especially important when measuring fundamental constants of nature. These constants are built into the fabric of our universe and are, as the name implies, constant in space and time. It is in our human desire to find estimates of the numerical values as close as possible to the true but hidden value of these beautiful and eternal constants.
While the fundamental constants are perfect, they are measured by humans. Naturally, the human condition, imperfect apparatus, and general messiness of life get in between the shining fundamental constants and our assessment of their values. In this talk, I’ll take you on a journey from Olaf Roemer’s first measurement of the speed of light in 1676 to all the measurements required to revise the definition of the international system of units, the SI, in 2019 on defining constants.
At its heart, this is a human story about setbacks, ingenuity, and relentless pursuit. But it is also a story about instruments and measurements.