Thermal Conductivity and Electrical Resistivity of Ferromagnetic Intermetallic Compound ErNi

Abstract

The thermal conductivity and the electrical resistivity of polycrystalline ErNi which is ferromagnetic below 10 K have been measured as a function of temperature between 1.5 and 15 K. The Lorenz function, calculated from the measured thermal conductivity and electrical resistivity values on the same sample, exceeded the value expected for electron heat conduction. This indicates that magnons significantly contribute to the heat conduction. The electrical resistivity below 3 K was proportional to T^1.9±0.3 which is due to spin-disorder resistivity.