Detection of Nonuniform Thermal Gradients in Galvanothermomagnetic Measurements Using Liquid Crystals

Abstract
Anomalous electrical measurements encountered during galvanothermomagnetic measurements of Hg1−xCdxTe were found to be caused by spurious temperature gradients in the sample mounting substrate. The magnitude and spatial orientation of these gradients were investigated to an accuracy of 0.25 K using cholesteric liquid crystal mixtures.