On the Anomalous Electronic Heat Capacity

Abstract

The experimentallymeasured and theoretically deduced values of the -coefficient of the electronic heat capacity exhibit a clear discrepancy. This discrepancy is usually attributed to the neglected effects such as the Electron self-interaction and the Electron interaction with phonons and the Coulomb potential. Despite the said pointers to the possible cause in the obtaining theoretical and experimental discrepancy, no dedicated effort has been put in-order to come up with a clear-cut theory to explain this. In the present reading, an effort is here made to come-up with a theoretical framework whose endeavour is to proffer an alternative theory as to why there is this theoretical and experimental discrepancy. We argue that the temperature of the free electrons in metals is not equal to that of the atoms (and molecules) making up these solids. With this simple and very reasonable assumption, we are able to explain at a satisfactory level, the existing theoretical and experimental discrepancy in the -coefficient of the electronic heat capacity.