Thermal conductivity of superconducting MgB2

TL;DR

This study investigates the thermal conductivity of MgB2 in both superconducting and normal states, revealing the dominant scattering mechanisms and the relative contributions of electrons and lattice vibrations.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of thermal conductivity in MgB2, combining experimental data with theoretical models to identify scattering processes and contributions in different states.

Findings

Electronic thermal conductivity is dominated by scattering on static imperfections.

Lattice contribution to thermal conductivity is larger in the superconducting state.

Normal state thermal conductivity is nearly equally influenced by electrons and lattice vibrations.

Abstract

Thermal conductivity of superconducting MgB2 was studied in both the superconducting and the normal state region. The latter is almost equally determined by the electronic - and the lattice contribution to the total thermal conductivity. In the superconducting state, however, the lattice contribution is larger. The electronic thermal conductivity below Tc was derived from the experimental data considering the Bardeen-Rickayzen-Tewordt theory together with the model of Geilikman. The analysis shows that electron scattering on static imperfections dominates.