Thermal diffusivity and conductivity of dental cements have been studied using open photoacoustic cell (OPC). The samples consisted of fast hardening cement named CER, developed to be a root-end filling material. Thermal characterization was performed in samples with different gel/powder ratio and particle sizes and the results were compared to the ones from commercial cements. Complementary measurements of specific heat and mass density were also performed. The results showed that the thermal diffusivity of CER tends to increase smoothly with gel volume and rapidly against particle size. This behavior was linked to the pores size and their distribution in the samples. The OPC method was shown to be a valuable way in deriving thermal properties of porous material.

Resonant excited state absorption (ESA) and relaxation processes in Tb(3+)-doped aluminosilicate glasses are quantitatively evaluated. A model describing the excitation steps and upconversion emission is developed and applied to interpret the results from laser-induced surface deformation using thermal mirror spectroscopy. The fluorescence quantum efficiency of level (5)D(4) was found to be close to unity and concentration independent while, for the level (5)D(3), it decreases with Tb(3+) concentration. Emission spectroscopy measurements supported these results. ESA cross sections are found to be more than three orders of magnitude higher than the ground state absorption cross section.

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