Thermal conduction in the intermediate state of superconductors

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe maximum in thermal resistivity exhibited by superconductors in the intermediate state is found to be particularly marked in tin at 0-5° K., at which temperature heat transport in the pure superconducting state is almost entirely by phonons. A simple theory of the effect is developed, based on the idea that phonon free paths are considerably shorter in the intermediate than in the superconducting state, owing to the high scattering caused by normal regions. Theory and experiment are in satisfactory agreement.