Thermomagnetic properties and magneto-thermal conductivity of elemental rare-earth (R-E) metals are presented from 80 to 400 K. Measurements are given with heat flux applied along the [100] and the [111] directions. This work is motivated by the complex band structures and Fermi surfaces of R-E and by the magnon contribution to the thermal conductivity. R-E's are multicarrier systems and have small thermopowers, which in principle can result in large Nernst coefficients.  This would make them be suitable in transverse Nernst-Ettingshausen coolers, which have the advantages of not requiring both n and p-type material, and of scaling simply with dimensions.  The magnon thermal conductivity is revealed by magnetic-field dependence studies.  Because magnons are bosons that, unlike acoustic phonons, can have an energy gap, a non-linear behavior of their thermal conductivity is theoretically predicted in the presence of a magnetic field gradient.  Supported by DOE-BES, EFRC-EFRC, 61-3212B

Thermomagnetic effects in elemental rare-earth single crystals

245th National Meeting (2013)

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