Effect of γ irradiation on the heat capacity of Rb2ZnBr4 in the vicinity of phase transitions

Abstract

Heat capacity of Rb2ZnBr4 as a function of γ irradiation dose has been measured within the 85–300 K range by the adiabatic calorimeter technique. It is shown that, as the irradiation dose increases, the heat capacity peak in the vicinity of the incommensurate-commensurate first-order phase transition (PT) decreases, and the transition temperature T c increases. The heat capacity peak in the region of the second-order PT at T 3=112 K does not depend on γ irradiation, both in magnitude and in position, just as the heat capacity throughout the remainder of the temperature range studied.