Measurement of the Thomson heat distribution in a thin-wire metal

Abstract

We have measured the temperature distribution of a thin-wire metal due to the Thomson effect at room temperature when a DC current is applied. To measure the Thomson effect, we have developed new test equipment for a thin-wire sample. We have clearly observed the small heat generation and absorption in a thin Pt wire on the order of a few millikelvins under the existence of Joule heating. These measured data are well-fitted by simulation data based on the heat-conduction equation.