Influence of a low magnetic field on the thermal diffusivity of Bi-2212

TL;DR

This study investigates how a low magnetic field affects the thermal diffusivity of Bi-2212, revealing a power-law behavior linked to electron percolation in the vortex lattice.

Contribution

It provides the first measurement of magnetic field influence on thermal diffusivity in Bi-2212 and models the behavior as a percolation process.

Findings

Magnetic field induces a power-law change in thermal diffusivity.

Electron mean free path is affected by magnetic field.

Percolation in vortex lattice explains observed behavior.

Abstract

The thermal diffusivity of a Bi-2212 polycrystalline sample has been measured under a 1T magnetic field applied perpendicularly to the heat flux. The magnetic contribution to the heat carrier mean free path has been extracted and is found to behave as a simple power law. This behavior can be attributed to a percolation process of electrons in the vortex lattice created by the magnetic field.