The specific heats of LaAg, GdAg and Gd2O3from 0.5 to 22K

Specific heat measurements on monoclinic Gd 2 O 3 show a cooperative peak at 3.8K. The entropy associated with this peak is the full 2R ln 8 expected for the Gd 3+ ions. Measurements on GdAg are affected by the presence of small inclusions of Gd 2 O 3 , but it proves possible to allow for these and to deduce values for the electronic specific heat constant gamma which is 11.4+or-1.7 mJ mol. -1 K -2 . For LaAg, gamma =9.9+or-0.2 mJ mol. -1 K -2 . The lattice heat capacities are analysed in terms of a Debye temperature which is found to vary strongly with temperature; the low-temperature limiting values are 208K and 150K for GdAg and LaAg respectively.