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Thomson coefficient
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Thomson coefficient

electronics
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The Thomson coefficient, named after William Thomson (Lord Kelvin), refers to the Thomson electromotive force per degree of temperature. This is related to the Thomson effect, which is the absorption or evolution of heat when an electric current passes through a material with a temperature difference along its length. This effect is distinct from the heat generated by electrical resistance.12

While the Thomson coefficient is a specific term, the broader concept of thermoelectricity involves the interaction between heat and electricity in solid materials. This phenomenon is the basis for thermoelectric power generators, which can convert heat directly into electricity or use electricity to create heating or cooling effects. The discovery of the electron by J.J. Thomson in 1898 was a pivotal moment in understanding the fundamental nature of electric charge and matter, opening new avenues in electromagnetic theory and atomic physics.34

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4 Britannica Sources
  1. Thomson coefficient
  2. Thomson effect
  3. thermoelectric power generator
  4. electromagnetism - Discovery of the electron and its ramifications

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