Specific heat measurement and its application to Pd2[rare earth]In alloys

Some experimental details of the construction and programming of the equipment is presented and discussed. The calorimeter is used to determine the specific heat of solid, approximately 1 g samples within the temperature range 4 K to 210 K. Initially the performance of the calorimeter is demonstrated by measuring the specific heat of a spectroscopically pure copper sample. The working of the apparatus is demonstrated with the experimental investigation of the specific heat of some Pd2[rare earth]In alloys. The 4f-electron contribution to the specific heat of Pd2YbIn and Pd2HoIn is determined, by subtraction of isostructural Pd2LuIn from the measured specific heat of Pd2YbIn and Pd2HoIn.