The density and thermal expansion of alumina (99.99%) were studied in
the liquid and solid states in the region of crystallization and melti
ng by irradiating the samples with a narrow beam of gamma quanta. The
temperature dependence of the density of strongly supercooled (by 220
K) alumina and the specific volume change on crystallization were dete
rmined. The results are compared with the data available in the litera
ture.