Sample shape and boundary dependence of measured transverse thermal properties

Abstract

Despite increased interest in thermal Hall measurements for the analysis of insulating quantum materials, there remains large uncertainty in such measurements due to contact misalignment. In this paper, we propose that sample geometry and uncertain boundary conditions provide an additional source of uncertainty in the measurement of Dxy or κxy. By running simple simulations in an open source finite-element solver, we demonstrate that measured Dxy can be changed by a non-negligible fraction in samples with similar width and length. This geometric corrective factor depends on the distinction between a uniform heat flow and constant temperature boundary couplings to a bath. Sample geometry and boundary conditions can be accounted for through simulation or by using rectangular samples to make thermal Hall measurements more reliable and reproducible. Finally, we detail a contactless optical method for measuring Dxy based on an existing photothermal microscope technique. This method is insensitive to the longitudinal diffusivity pollution caused by contact misalignment.