Thermo-electricity at low temperatures III. The absolute scale of thermo-electric power: a critical discussion of the present scale at low temperatures and preliminary measurements towards its redetermination

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
In order to compare exactly the present theory of thermo-electric power in metals with the behaviour of the simple alkali metals, particularly sodium, at low temperatures, it is necessary to know the absolute thermo-electric, power of one single conductor. There has been only one such determination of an absolute scale of thermo-electric power, and this was derived 23 years ago as the outcome of measurements which had been made primarily for other purposes. As measurements of the thermo-electric force of the alkali metals at low temperatures have recently become available, it is appropriate now to review critically the experimental basis of that scale. In view of new experimental evidence on the behaviour of the thermo-electric power of superconductors just above the transition point which has appeared in the last few years, it appears that a redetermination of the scale is necessary, at least at low temperatures. In this paper the present absolute scale of thermo-electric force is critically discussed particularly in relation to preliminary measurements towards its redetermination.