  This paper extends the recently introduced Front Face Flash Method for
extraction of thermal diffusivity of thin films to samples of small optical
thickness. The paper discusses the principal question whether diffusivity is
uniquely defined in case a heated ceramic, thin film sample is non- or only
partly transparent to radiation. The paper applies radiative Monte Carlo and
Two-Flux simulations to numerically solve the Equation of Radiative Transfer.
Both methods are integrated in a Finite Element scheme, with conduction coupled
to radiation, to investigate heat transfer under strongly transient and
non-linear conditions. In this paper, the Front Face Flash method is
successfully applied to ZrO2- and SiC samples. It thus provides a promising
tool to also investigate the thermal transport properties of thin film
superconductors, but applicability still has to be demonstrated. The approach
is particularly suitable for analysis of coupled conduction/radiation
processes.
