Two-dimensional treatment of nonlinear thermoelectricity in homogeneous metals
Abstract
Electron transport due to large temperature gradients in a homogeneous monovalent metal is studied. In contrast to linear theory, a nonlinear thermoelectric current depends on temperature variations not only in one direction but in other directions as well. When a temperature distribution is essentially two dimensional, the calculated current has circular components. Thus, contrary to linear theory, it is impossible to use a zero-current steady-state condition to calculate the voltage induced by this effect. A new steady-state condition is proposed which allows currents to complete a circuit. A thermoelectric voltage is evaluated for the case which closely approximates recent experimental results creating large temperature gradients in metals.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review B
- Pub Date:
- October 1990
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevB.42.7405
- Bibcode:
- 1990PhRvB..42.7405G
- Keywords:
-
- 72.15.Jf;
- 73.50.-h;
- 73.60.Aq;
- Thermoelectric and thermomagnetic effects;
- Electronic transport phenomena in thin films