Magneto-Seebeck and Nernst effects in cadmium arsenide

Abstract

The Seebeck and Nernst coefficients of several samples of Cd 3As2 have been measured, in transverse magnetic fields of up to 2 tesla, between liquid nitrogen and room temperature. The saturation high-field Seebeck coefficient has been determined by extrapolation of the results of these measurements, taking into account inelastic scattering of the electrons. From the interdependence of the high-field Seebeck and Hall coefficients, it appears that the conduction band is linear, i.e. E is proportional to k. Thence, from the difference between the high- and low-field Seebeck coefficients, the scattering law has been determined. If the relaxation time τ is supposed to be proportional to k2λ-1dE/dk a value of λ equal to 0·7 is indicated.