Wiedemann–Franz law
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In physics, the Wiedemann–Franz law states that the ratio of the electronic contribution of the thermal conductivity (κ) to the electrical conductivity (σ) of a metal is proportional to the temperature (T).[1]
Theoretically, the proportionality constant L, known as the Lorenz number, is equal to
where kB is Boltzmann's constant and e is the elementary charge.
This empirical law is named after Gustav Wiedemann and Rudolph Franz, who in 1853 reported that κ/σ has approximately the same value for different metals at the same temperature.[2] The proportionality of κ/σ with temperature was discovered by Ludvig Lorenz in 1872.[3]