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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Observable Variables in Thermoelectric Phenomena

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New transport equations for the thermoelectric phenomena have been deduced. All of the variables in this formulation are observable quantities. The limitations of the usual formulations, which work with nonobservable quantities, have been overcome. The electric potential can be measured by using auxiliary probes which connect the electronic conductor to a potentiometer. This observable electric potential depends on the nature of the probes but not on the room temperature where the potentiometer is placed. Also, we emphasize that absolute values for the thermoelectric power are in contradiction with the thermodynamic limitation of measuring electric potential differences in these systems. Therefore, the thermoelectric powers calculated either through the Thomson coefficient or in reference to a superconductor cannot be absolute quantities.