Low-temperature pressure variations in a self-clamping pressure cell

A simple method is described that permits a consistent determination of thermally induced pressure variations in a piston-cylinder, self-clamping pressure cell at temperatures less than ambient. Significant pressure changes are found to be present even for T<75 K. It is also shown that the pressure coefficient of resistance of a manganin-wire gauge is, to within experimental uncertainty, independent of temperature over the range 0<T≤300 K.