Low-Temperature Heat Conduction in Pure, Monocrystalline Ice

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The heat conduction of ice single crystals is measured by a steady-state heat-flux method between 1.7 K and 100 K. For temperatures higher than 16 K all experimental points are found to be on the same curve. For temperatures lower than 16 K the heat conduction curves depend on the material of the crystallization vessel, the ageing of the sample and the cooling rate between the temperature of the mount (≈ 260 K) and liquid-nitrogen temperature. No anisotropy can be found for temperatures higher than 9 K. Computer fits are made, based on Callaway’s model of heat conduction in dielectric crystals. An attempt is made to explain the observed extrinsic heat conduction by the presence of microstructures in ice. It is shown that heat-conduction measurements can be used to establish a “quality-list” of samples studied in laboratories.