Thermal conductivity via magnetic excitations in spin-chain materials

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent experimental and theoretical progress on thermal conductivity driven by magnetic excitations in spin-chain and spin-ladder materials, highlighting key findings and unresolved questions.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of experimental results on spin-mediated heat transport in idealized magnetic systems, connecting them with theoretical insights.

Findings

Experimental evidence of spin-mediated thermal conductivity

Identification of magnetic excitations as heat carriers

Open questions on energy transport mechanisms

Abstract

We discuss the recent progress and the current status of experimental investigations of spin-mediated energy transport in spin-chain and spin-ladder materials with antiferromagnetic coupling. We briefly outline the central results of theoretical studies on the subject but focus mainly on recent experimental results that were obtained on materials which may be regarded as adequate physical realizations of the idealized theoretical model systems. Some open questions and unsettled issues are also addressed.