The Lattice Thermal Conductivity of Alloys

Abstract

The lattice thermal conductivity of alloys at liquid helium temperatures yields information about the nature of the electron-phonon interaction, and about the density of dislocations. It appears that in copper, silver, and gold the electrons interact with transverse as well as with longitudinal lattice waves. The lattice conductivity also varies with alloy composition; it is not clear whether this variation should be ascribed to changes in the electron density or to the presence of dislocations, locked into stable configurations by the solute atom. If the latter view is adopted, the density of dislocations in annealed alloys is typically of the order of lOlD to 1011 lines/em".