A method for measuring the specific heat of small samples

A technique for measuring the specific heat of small samples over a wide temperature range is described. The method uses a sequence of increasing and decreasing power levels applied to a heater thermally attached to a sample and thermometer with the entire assembly connected to a heat reservoir through a weak thermal link. By recording the temperature both on the heating and cooling portions of the sequence, the heat loss to the surroundings automatically can be eliminated from the calculation of the specific heat. The measuring system and data analysis technique are described. Example data of the specific heat change at the superconducting transition of 34 mg of In are given.