Phonon conductivity of InSb in the temperature range 2–800 K

Abstract

The lattice thermal conductivity of InSb has been calculated in the temperature range 2–800 K in the frame of Dubey’s model, which makes use of Guthrie’s classification of three-phonon scattering events. Excellent agreement has been found between the theoretical and experimental values of the phonon conductivity over a wide range of temperatures. The temperature dependence of three-phonon scattering relaxation rate has been calculated for both class I and class II events in the study of phonon conductivity of InSb. The percentage contributions of transverse and longitudinal phonons have been studied separately in the temperature range of investigation. The role of four-phonon processes is also included at high temperatures. The percentage contributions of the three-phonon normal and umklapp processes towards τ 3 −1 have also been investigated.