Automatic low temperature calorimetry for the range 0.3-320K

Abstract

The authors describe a fully automated process control, data recording and analysing system for measuring heat capacities in the temperature range 0.3K to 320K, using the Nernst method. The DC measuring system employs the CAMAC-norm in conjunction with an on-line-computer system (PDP 11/15-PDP 11/20), shared together with three other types of solid state physics experiments. The apparatus is characterised by a high flexibility to adapt to a wide range of different experimental conditions and has been tested in a series of high precision specific heat measurements. The low temperature calorimeter and the organisation of hardware and software components are described. The performance of the apparatus is illustrated by results obtained on a copper-standard sample.