The Thermal Conductivity of Gold at Low Temperatures

Abstract

Measurements of thermal conductivity at temperatures between 2 and 150°K for several specimens of gold of differing physical and chemical purity are reported. A brief description is given of the cryostat and the experimental technique. Below 35°K the total thermal resistance is given approximately by R = A/T + BT²; apparent small departures from this equation are discussed. The experimental values of B lead to a value of C 15 in the equation for the ideal resistance R_i = R_∞ CN^2/3 (T/Θ)². At temperatures above Θ/2 the conductivity is sensibly constant and no minimum is observed.