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bjnartowt
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- TL;DR Summary
- Is there emission and absorption of phonons within an electron gas lacking an underlying lattice?
It is well-known that the electron gas of volume V has an equation of state p=p(V) and thus has a bulk modulus $$B=-V(dp/dV)$$. Suppose the electron gas had no underlying lattice but was confined. Do phonons emit and absorb in such an electron gas at finite temperature?
The reason I ask is because I have found that if I try to make a Carnot engine with an electron gas as the working fluid, I get above-Carnot efficiencies if I consider the electrons alone to carry thermal energy. I can only conclude that a separate system of phonons exists within the electrons that carry thermal energy.
Comments?
The reason I ask is because I have found that if I try to make a Carnot engine with an electron gas as the working fluid, I get above-Carnot efficiencies if I consider the electrons alone to carry thermal energy. I can only conclude that a separate system of phonons exists within the electrons that carry thermal energy.
Comments?