Thermoelectric Power of Expanded Fluid Mercury and Dilute Amalgams

Abstract

The thermoelectric power S has been measured for expanded fluid Hg and dilute amalgams in the range of temperature and pressure up to 1700°C and 2100 bar. In the supercritical region S for fluid Hg and dilute amalgams containing Bi and Cd change rapidly from large negative to large positive by raising temperature. Such an anomalous behaviour of S can be attributed to the transition from the liquid semiconducting state to the plasma state in which the drift of the charged atoms plays an essential role in the conduction.