THEORY OF THE SEEBECK COEFFICIENT IN ALKALI AND NOBLE METALS

A new formula for the Seebeck coefficient S is obtained: [Formula: see text], where q, n, ε F , [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are, respectively, charge, carrier density, Fermi energy, density of states at ε F and volume. Seebeck (S) and Hall (R H ) coefficients in alkali metals are both negative while these coefficients in noble metals have opposite signs. This difference is shown to arise from the different shapes of the Fermi surface.