Validation of the Wiedemann-Franz Law in Solid and Molten Tungsten above 2000 K through Thermal Conductivity Measurements via Steady-State Temperature Differential Radiometry

Authors

Milena Milich, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904, USA.
Hunter B. Schonfeld, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904, USA.
Konstantinos Boboridis, European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Karlsruhe, D-76125, Germany.
Davide Robba, European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Karlsruhe, D-76125, Germany.
Luka Vlahovic, European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Karlsruhe, D-76125, Germany.
Rudy J. Konings, European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Karlsruhe, D-76125, Germany.
Jeffrey L. Braun, Laser Thermal Analysis, Inc., Charlottesville, Virginia 22902, USA.
John T. Gaskins, Laser Thermal Analysis, Inc., Charlottesville, Virginia 22902, USA.
Niraj Bhatt, University of Rhode Island
Ashutosh Giri, University of Rhode Island
Patrick E. Hopkins, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904, USA.

Document Type

Article

Date of Original Version

4-5-2024

Abstract

We measure the thermal conductivity of solid and molten tungsten using steady state temperature differential radiometry. We demonstrate that the thermal conductivity can be well described by application of Wiedemann-Franz law to electrical resistivity data, thus suggesting the validity of Wiedemann-Franz law to capture the electronic thermal conductivity of metals in their molten phase. We further support this conclusion using ab initio molecular dynamics simulations with a machine-learned potential. Our results show that at these high temperatures, the vibrational contribution to thermal conductivity is negligible compared to the electronic component.

Publication Title, e.g., Journal

Physical review letters

Volume

132

Issue

14

Citation/Publisher Attribution

Milich, Milena, Hunter B. Schonfeld, Konstantinos Boboridis, Davide Robba, Luka Vlahovic, Rudy J. Konings, Jeffrey L. Braun, John T. Gaskins, Niraj Bhatt, Ashutosh Giri, and Patrick E. Hopkins. "Validation of the Wiedemann-Franz Law in Solid and Molten Tungsten above 2000 K through Thermal Conductivity Measurements via Steady-State Temperature Differential Radiometry." Physical review letters 132, 14 (2024). doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.132.146303.