The vanishing of thermoelectric effects in superconductors (Q2479716)

In order to explain the vanishing of the thermoelectric effect in superconducting metals, the authors study the phenomenological equations of the linear nonequilibrium thermodynamics for the flow electrons and of the reduced heat flow in an homogeneous metallic sample. In comparing these equations with Ohm's and Fourier's laws and with the definition of the absolute thermoelectric power, the phenomenological coefficients are found in evident form. Then, taking into account the positive character of entropy production and that the electrical conductivity exhibits very large values in a superconducting state, the vanishing of thermoelectric power in the superconducting state is found on the base of Onsager relation. The authors conclude that a violation of the above effect suggests the possibility of conversion of internal energy into work with a higher efficiency than is foreseen by the Second Law of Thermodynamics.