The Thomson effect describes the heating or cooling of a current-carrying conductor when a temperature gradient exists along its length. Heat is produced or absorbed when current flows through a material with a temperature gradient. The rate of heat production per unit length is given by [latex]\frac{dQ}{dx} = -\mathcal{K} J \frac{dT}{dx}[/latex], where [latex]\mathcal{K}[/latex] is the Thomson coefficient.
Thomson Effect
- William Thomson (Lord Kelvin)

The Thomson effect arises because the Seebeck coefficient of a material is generally dependent on temperature. As charge carriers move along a conductor from a hot region to a cold region (or vice versa), their average energy changes not only due to the temperature but also due to the changing Seebeck coefficient. When an electric current (J) flows through a conductor with a temperature gradient ([latex]frac{dT}{dx}[/latex]), this effect becomes apparent.
If the current flows in the same direction as the heat flow (from hot to cold), heat may be absorbed or released depending on the sign of the Thomson coefficient ([latex]mathcal{K}[/latex]) for that material. This heating or cooling is distinct from and superimposed upon the irreversible Joule heating ([latex]I^2R[/latex]) that always occurs. The Thomson effect is crucial for a complete termodinámica description of thermoelectric phenomena and is linked to the Seebeck and Peltier effects through the Kelvin relations, which are foundational to the field.
Tipo
Disrupción
Utilización
Precursores
- discovery of the seebeck effect (1821)
- discovery of the peltier effect (1834)
- sadi carnot’s work on thermodynamics and heat engines
- james prescott joule’s work on the heating effect of electric current
Aplicaciones
- provides a complete theoretical estructura for thermoelectricity
- used in the accurate modeling of thermoelectric generators and coolers
- helps characterize materials by relating the three thermoelectric coefficients
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Contexto histórico
Thomson Effect
(si se desconoce la fecha o no es relevante, por ejemplo "mecánica de fluidos", se ofrece una estimación redondeada de su notable aparición)
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