Title

Quantum Interference Enhancement of the Spin-Thermopower

Author

Nathan Bennett, UndergraduateFollow

Files

Publication Date

4-2020

Document Type

Presentation

Presentation Type

Individual

Degree Type

Undergraduate

Department

Physics

Mentor

Justin Bergfield

Mentor Department

Physics

Abstract

Heat can be directly converted into electricity via the thermoelectric effect in a device which has nomoving parts and no operational carbon footprint. More efficient thermoelectric materials are highlysought after as energy harvesting materials and as way to understand how charge and heat interact withone another. In addition to charge, electrons carry a purely quantum property known as spin. Under theinfluence of an applied temperature difference, certain “spintronic” materials generate spin-dependentpotentials useful for a host of applications. The interplay between spin and heat is described by the spinthermopower, a quantity we calculate and analyze for a few interesting systems.

Notes

Authors: Nathan Bennett, Justin Bergfield

This project has not received IRB approval.

Recommended Citation

Bennett, Nathan, "Quantum Interference Enhancement of the Spin-Thermopower" (2020). Physics. 5.
https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/ursphy/5