Specific heat measurements under non-equilibrium conditions

The application of conduction calorimetry for specific heat measurements on samples under non-equilibrium conditions is reviewed.The influence of a constant rate of temperature decrease on the specific heatc of a TGS ferroelectric crystal doped with a small quantity ofL-alanine (LATGS) is discussed. The relaxation process ofc is likewise analysed.The simultaneous measurement ofc and the dissipative heat powerQ in a LATGS crystal in an alternative electric field which produces hysteresis loops is also discussed. It is shown that this specific heat is the sum of the corresponding equilibrium values plus a term proportional to the derivative ofQ with respect to temperature.