Damped thermoelectric waves

Dynamic measurement techniques such as ac resistivity and the Cahill 3-ω [1990] thermal conductivity method induce periodic currents in materials. In thermoelectric materials the coupling between electrical and thermal effects means the normal mode excitations are generally attenuated waves of mixed electrical/thermal character. Since ZT is one measure of the coupling between the electrical and thermal effects it is perhaps not surprising that ZT is also a measure of the mixing. This paper examines solutions to the coupled thermoelectric diffusion problem and discusses some implications for measurements