QUO VADIS: Low Temperature Calorimetry

Low temperature heat capacity calorimetry has a long history in the field of chemical thermodynamics in relation to the third law of thermodynamics. The method is playing an important role in the recent materials science. Central research subject has been shifted according to the need and fashion of the times. The calorimetry has been used in static as well as dynamic modes. By surveying the historical development of the low temperature calorimetry, several suggestions to new directions in the instrumentations and research subjects are described in this article. Key words: adiabatic alorimetry, heat capacity, phase transition, glass transition, low-frequency spectrometer, glassy solid