Calculation of the Thermal Conductivity of Pure Superconducting Lead

Abstract
A calculation of the thermal conductivity of normal and superconducting lead has been performed. A semiempirical model for the density of phonon states and the electron-phonon coupling constants is used. The calculation is based on the strong-coupling theory worked out by Tewordt and one of the authors (V.A.). It is found that the quasiparticle limit of this theory is valid for the calculation. The results are in fair agreement with experiment. A physical explanation for the anomalously large drop in the thermal conductivity of superconducting lead is suggested.