Abstract

Criterion Of Electric Current Thermal Switching In Solids

Author(s): Levan S.Chkhartishvili

Considering the heat-balance equation for the solid sample overheated through the Joule effect its normalized current–voltage characteristic has been obtained. On this basis there is established a universal correlation between ambient-temperature resistivity of material and the voltage of thermal switching: when the resistivity decreases by a factor of ~ 2 the current switches on. According to criterion, the switching effect observed in -rhombohedral boron near the room-temperature reveals a purely thermal nature.