The electronic contribution to the thermal conductivity of layered high- materials

Abstract
We have used the variational approach to calculate the in-plane electronic thermal conductivity of high- superconductors along the lines of a two-fluid model. To account for the layered structure of these compounds, an anisotropic electronic energy spectrum with a Josephson-like coupling between the superconducting planes within a Lawrence - Doniach model has been assumed. Both elastic and inelastic electronic scattering processes are considered. The theoretical results obtained are in quantitative agreement with experimental data on single crystals and polycrystals. These results suggest an electronic origin of the peak observed in the thermal conductivity of these materials.