arXiv subjects

Enrico Massa

Publications and source records attributed to Enrico Massa.

25 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2014

The distribution of the electric current in a watt-balance coil

In the watt balance experiments, separate measurements of the magnetic and electromotive forces in a coil in a magnetic field enable a virtual comparison between mechanical and electric powers to be carried out, which lead to an accurate measurement of the Planck constant. This paper investigates the three-dimensional nature of the coil-field interaction and describes the balance operation by a continuous three-dimensional model.

physics.class-ph↗

arXiv2013

Precision measurements of the Planck and Avogadro constants

Precision measurements of the fundamental constants are tour de force of basic metrology, where the useful information is usually beyond the last digit of the measured value. They challenge theoretical models and measurement technologies and set a network of measurement equations on which a universal system of units can be built, which stems from the most basic concepts of physics. Because of their connection with the mass unit, the Avogadro and Planck constants are on the spotlight.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2013

Finite element analysis of surface-stress effects in the Si lattice-parameter measurement

A stress exists in solids surfaces, similarly to liquids, also if the underlying bulk material is stress-free. This paper investigates the surface stress effect on the measured value of the Si lattice parameter used to determine the Avogadro constant by counting Si atoms. An elastic-film model has been used to provide a surface load in a finite element analysis of the lattice strain of the x-ray interferometer crystal used to measure the lattice parameter. Eventually, an experiment is proposed to work a lattice parameter measurement out so that there is a visible effect of the surface stress.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2013

Elemental characterization of the Avogadro silicon crystal WASO 04 by neutron activation analysis

Analytical measurements of the 28Si crystal used for the determination of the Avogadro constant are essential to prevent biased results or under-estimated uncertainties. A review of the existing data confirms the high-purity of silicon with respect to a large number of elements. In order to obtain a direct evidence of purity, we developed a relative analytical method based on neutron activation. As a preliminary test, this method was applied to a sample of the Avogadro crystal WASO 04. The investigation concerned twenty-nine elements. The mass fraction of Au was quantified to be 1.03(18) x 10-12. For the remaining twenty-eight elements, the mass fractions are below the detection limits, which range between 1 x 10-12 and 1 x 10-5.

physics.chem-ph↗

arXiv2012

Constrained variational calculus: the second variation (part I)

Within the geometrical framework developed in arXiv:0705.2362, the problem of minimality for constrained calculus of variations is analysed among the class of differentiable curves. A fully covariant representation of the second variation of the action functional, based on a suitable gauge transformation of the Lagrangian, is explicitly worked out. Both necessary and sufficient conditions for minimality are proved, and are then reinterpreted in terms of Jacobi fields.

math-ph↗

arXiv2011

Does the measured value of the Planck constant depend on the energy of measurements?

The measurement of the Avogadro constant opened the way to a comparison of the watt-balance measurements of the Planck constant with the values calculated from the quotients of the Planck constant and the mass of a particle or an atom. Since the energy scales of these measurements span nine energy decades, these data provide insight into the consistency of our understanding of physics.

physics.data-an↗

arXiv2010

Measurement of the \{220\} lattice-plane spacing of a $^{28}$Si crystal

The spacing of the \{220\} lattice planes of a $^{28}$Si crystal was measured by combined x-ray and optical interferometry to a $3.5\times 10^{-9}$ relative accuracy. The result is $d_{220}=(192014712.67 \pm 0.67)$ am, at 20.0 $^\circ$C and 0 Pa. This value is greater by $(1.9464 \pm 0.0067)\times 10^{-9} d_{220}$ than the spacing in natural Si, a difference which confirms quantum mechanics calculations. Subsequently, this crystal has been used to determine the Avogadro constant by counting the Si atoms, a key step towards a realization of the mass unit based on a conventional value of the Planck or the Avogadro constants.

physics.atom-ph↗