Prediction and realization of a temperature control limit at low temperatures in SPRIGT

On May 20th 2019, the World Metrology Day, the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures announced a major revision to the four more SI units. The base unit, the kelvin, is defined by fixing the value of Boltzmann constant as indicated in Mise en pratique for the definition of the kelvin in the SI. To realize the new kelvin, a novel practical realization technique of single-pressure refractive-index gas thermometry (SPRIGT) has been jointly developed by the TIPC-CAS in China and the LNE-Cnam in France. To carry out accurate SPRIGT, experimental methods have been implemented and micro-kelvin level temperature control limits have been predicted and achieved at 5 K to 26 K. The resonator temperature stability can be maintained to within better than 8 {\mu}K of its set point with an integration time 33.6 s over 180 h. Besides, solutions for further improving the stability were also demonstrated, which can be a reference for temperature metrology field worldwide and other fields where high-stability temperature is required. The present work should also provide a solid foundation for international data comparison of thermodynamic temperature at low temperatures, and will promote realizations of the new kelvin and the spread of high-accuracy, low-temperature metrology.