Measurements of thermal diffusivity of spherical samples. $\rm Fe$–$\rm Sn$ system

An experimental setup is described, which enables one to measure the thermal diffusivity of metals and alloys by the pulse method for spherical samples. Results are given of the investigation of thermal diffusivity of $\rm Fe$–$\rm Sn$ alloy in the neighborhood of the solid state–liquid state transition; also give are X-ray electron spectra of valence bands of the $\rm Fe$–$\rm Sn$ system with different tin content.