VICTOR

This is an instrument for measuring the thermal conductivity of insulation materials that was designed and built at LBNL. A thin gold-foil heater is sandwiched between two slabs of aerogel. This is then sandwiched between two constant temperature copper plates. The amount of power needed by the heater to maintain a constant heat flux towards the plates gives the thermal conductivity of the aerogel. The entire apparatus is enclosed in an aluminum vessel for measurements at low pressures. The instrument is being operated by its designer, Peter Stevens.