Measurement of the Thermal Diffusivity of Solids with an Axisymmetrically Positioned Source of Heat Pulse

The pulse method of measurement of the thermal diffusivity of cylindrical samples is considered: an optimum version of normalization of the geometric parameters of a heat pulse, the thicknesses of a cylinder to the radius, and significance of the length of a heat pulse are discussed. The method is realized on an automated experimental setup with simultaneous recording of a thermal signal and the shape and length of a laser pulse. Nonlinear effects are eliminated by decreasing the energy density on the front surface of the sample. The setup presented allows measurement of the thermal diffusivity within a wide range of its values with an error not exceeding 5%. The obtained results of the determination of the thermal diffusivity of Al, Cu, and Fe are presented in comparison with the literature data.