Thermal conductivity of plutonium above room temperature

The thermal diffusivity of plutonium metal has been measured from room temperature to 822 K by the laser-flash method, and the thermal conductivity has been calculated using literature data for the other parameters. Linear fits of the conductivity to temperature have been provided for all the phases with the exception of delta'. A simple quadratic fit, suitable for rough estimates, for all the higher-temperature phases other than delta' is also given. The results are compared with measurements of the electrical resistivity in the same region, and are discussed in terms of contemporary theories of the electronic structure of the material in its various phases. (c) 2008 American Institute of Physics.