CODATA Recommended Values of the Fundamental Physical Constants: 2018

• Published in: Journal of physical and chemical reference data Vol. 50; no. 3; pp. 033105 - 33165
• Main Authors: Tiesinga, Eite, Mohr, Peter J., Newell, David B., Taylor, Barry N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Institute of Physics 01.09.2021
• Subjects: Chemistry; Gravitational waves; Heat transfer; Hydrogen; Magnetism; Measurement; Physics; Protons; QED; precision measurements; conventional and SI electrical units; Rydberg constant; fundamental constants; revised SI; electron and muon g-factors; proton radius; fine-structure constant
• ISSN: 0047-2689; 1529-7845
• DOI: 10.1063/5.0064853

We report the 2018 self-consistent values of constants and conversion factors of physics and chemistry recommended by the Committee on Data of the International Science Council. The recommended values can also be found at physics.nist.gov/constants. The values are based on a least-squares adjustment that takes into account all theoretical and experimental data available through 31 December 2018. A discussion of the major improvements as well as inconsistencies within the data is given. The former include a decrease in the uncertainty of the dimensionless fine-structure constant and a nearly two orders of magnitude improvement of particle masses expressed in units of kg due to the transition to the revised International System of Units (SI) with an exact value for the Planck constant. Further, because the elementary charge, Boltzmann constant, and Avogadro constant also have exact values in the revised SI, many other constants are either exact or have significantly reduced uncertainties. Inconsistencies remain for the gravitational constant and the muon magnetic-moment anomaly. The proton charge radius puzzle has been partially resolved by improved measurements of hydrogen energy levels. This review article contains the 2018 self-consistent set of values of the constants and conversion factors of physics and chemistry recommended by the Committee on Data for Science and Technology (CODATA).The CODATA values are based on a least-squares adjustment that takes into account all data available up to the end of 2018. Details of the data selection and methodology are described.