The thermal expansion coefficient and Gruneisen parameter of InP crystal at low temperatures

Abstract

The thermal expansion of the lattice constant of InP crystal has been measured in the range 4.2-300 K by the Bond method and the results are shown graphically. The thermal expansion coefficient alpha calculated from the experimental results is negative between 15 and 80 K and positive below 15 K. The corresponding Gruneisen parameter gamma closely follows the behaviour of alpha and the values of alpha and gamma are tabulated and shown graphically. The results do not agree with the phenomenological theory in which only a negative alpha is predicted for InP at low temperatures.