THEORETICAL APPROACHES TO THERMAL-CONDUCTIVITY IN LIQUIDS

We first review analytical and computer modelling approaches to heat c onduction in insulating liquids. Thermal conductivity lambda can be ca lculated by approximate analytic theory, and also by molecular simulat ion which solves the many-body problem for molecules interacting throu gh specific interactions. Equilibrium and non-equilibrium molecular dy namics, NEMD, techniques are now available that enable lambda to be co mputed for single-component monatomic and molecular liquids, as well a s their mixtures. For mixtures, lambda can be determined from the dist inct Onsager coefficients, individually computed using equilibrium mol ecular dynamics: Electronic contributions to the thermal conductivity of liquid metals are then considered, by invoking the Wiedemann-Franz Law relating thermal and electrical transport.