Measuring Heat in Tiny Samples: How Thickness Affects Temperature Readings

Have you ever wondered how scientists measure heat in super small samples? One method they use is called plasmon energy expansion thermometry, or PEET. This method helps them see how hot different parts of a tiny sample are. Recently, scientists checked out how well PEET works in measuring the temperature of a thin tungsten sample heated up to 700°C. They found that the thickness of the sample can affect the temperature readings. When the sample is very thin, it can get strained and expand more, which throws off the temperature readings.This is something scientists need to keep in mind when using PEET to measure temperature in thin samples with varying thickness. Interestingly, for tungsten, the scientists discovered a way to improve the accuracy of the temperature readings by looking at how much the heat signal spreads out. This is important because understanding how heat affects tiny samples can help scientists figure out new materials and technologies.