Thermal resistivity of alkali metals

Abstract

The temperature dependence of the thermal resistivity of alkali metals lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium and caesium is determined within the free electron approximation by using Krebs's model for the phonon dispersion relations. The normal and Umklapp contributions are obtained separately from an improved method following the procedure of an earlier paper. The results of calculations are compared with available experimental information. The theoretical and experimental resistivity curves are found to be of similar nature, but they show considerable disagreement at low and high temperatures.