LXVIII. The specific heat of beryllium at low temperatures

Abstract

Measurements have been made in the temperature range 4 to 300°k. The results obtained are consistent with the most recent high temperature data, but are markedly different from existing low temperature ones. In particular, no trace of anomalous behaviour near 11°k was found, and the low temperature results have been analysed to yield an electronic specific heat of 5·4 × 10 ⁻⁵ T cal deg⁻¹ g atom⁻¹, in good agreement with theoretical predictions. The Debye characteristic temperature is constant at 1160° below 20°k, but falls with increasing temperature to 925° at 300°k ; this behaviour is believed to be characteristic of the close-packed hexagonal lattice. Values are also given for the heat capacity of a bakelite varnish used in these experiments.