Note Concerning the Suitability of Xenon as Temperature Fixed Point

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Abstract
The normal boiling and melting points of Xe have been found to be 165.054 ± 0.0015 K and 161.3910 ± 0.00025 K respectively. The vapour pressure of Xe between its normal boiling and melting points can be represented as a function of temperature by a simple equation having only three terms. Natural Xe appears to be unsuitable as a temperature scale fixed point because its melting curve has no well-defined plateau and thus the liquidus point can only be obtained by very precise total melting time determinations. Furthermore, the boiling point is unsuitable because the estimation of its high aerostatic pressure correction may introduce a sizable systematic error.