THERMAL EXPANSION OF SINGLE CRYSTALS OF ZINC AT LOW TEMPERATURES

Abstract

The linear thermal expansion coefficients αψ of two single crystals of Zn of orientations ψ = 10.8° and 63.9 ° with the hexad axis were measured over the temperature range of about 20–270 °K using an absolute Fizeau optical interference technique. The two principal coefficients, [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], corresponding to ψ = 0° and 90 ° respectively, were calculated from the Voigt relation, and their values are compared with previously reported experimental data. Above 60 °K there is good agreement with previous work, and below 60 °K the results confirm, in general, the data obtained by McCammon and White. The Grüneisen parameter γ is essentially constant at about 2.1 in the range 100–270 °K, but below 100 °K γ rises appreciably with decreasing temperature and reaches the value of about 3.5 at 20 °K.