Electron Contribution to Specific HeatOne of the great mysteries in physics in the early part of the 20th century was why electrons didn't appear to contribute to specific heat. How could they contribute to electrical conduction and heat conduction and not to specific heat? The small fraction of electrons which are within kT of the Fermi level does contribute a small specific heat, and this electron specific heat becomes significant at very low temperatures. |
Index Reference Rohlf Ch 14. |
HyperPhysics***** Thermodynamics | Go Back |
Electron Specific HeatUsing Fermi-Dirac statistics (as opposed to Einstein-Bose for phonons), a small fraction of the electrons are available to participate in specific heat. This fraction contributes a specific heat: It is important only for low temperatures in metals where it becomes larger than the T-cubed dependent phonon contribution. At those low temperatures is becomes part of the Einstein-Debye specific heat expression.
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Index Reference Rohlf Ch 14. | |
HyperPhysics***** Thermodynamics | Go Back |