Correlation between the thermal expansion coefficient and heat capacity of solid xenon

Abstract

The correlation between the volume expansivity beta(T) and heat capacity C(T) of a solid inert gas (Xe) is analyzed in detail. It is shown that there is a clear beta(C) correlation not only at low temperatures, where it is linear and known as Gruneisen's law, but also in a considerably broader temperature range, up to the melting point of xenon. A significant deviation from the low-temperature linear behavior of beta(C) occurs when the heat capacity reaches 3R, the classical Dulong-Petit limit.