Book Description

A brief outline of the present theory of thermal conductivity of metals is given with particular emphasis to cryogenic temperatures. The Principle of Corresponding States is applied to thermal conductivity of metallic elements and their dilute alloys at low temperatures. Based on the theory of metals and the Principle of Corresponding States a universal relation for the reduced thermal conductivity is obtained. Discrepencies between the theoretical and experimental results are investigated and the thermal conductivity relation is modified to remove these discrepancies. The interaction (coupling) between ideal and impurity thermal resistance is also treated. As a preliminary investigation, the Principle of Corresponding States is also applied to thermal conductivity of semi-metallic solids at low temperatures.