Specific heat of high-purity solid gallium close to the melting point

We report on specific heat determinations of 99·9999% pure gallium applying an optical A.C. method. Data were taken with a temperature resolution, relative to the melting point T M, of 2 mK, starting from 1·5 K below T M and proceeding across the melting transition. The specific heat which was derived from amplitude and phase measurements, increases below the nominal melting point. The implication of these findings is discussed.