Calculation of the Force Acting on an Impurity in a Metal Submitted to an Electric Field or a Temperature Gradient

Abstract

Using the Bosvieux-Friedel polarization model, the charge carrier induced force on an impurity in a normal metal submitted to a temperature gradient or an electric field is calculated, and a connection is made between the two phenomena. The results are interpreted in terms of the specific resistivity and thermoelectric power of the impurity in the matrix. A crude estimation of the force due to phonon scattering on an impurity in a temperature gra­ dient is given