EXPERIMENTAL DETERMINATIONS OF THE LORENZ NUMBER

The Lorenz number, which was assumed to be a universal factor, was lat er found to be deviating from its theoretical Sommerfeld value. Our un derstanding of the physics of the Weidemann-Franz Lorenz law is based on a large number of investigations. In view of its importance in the understanding of thermal and electrical conductivity (particularly the electronic contribution), an attempt has been made to review the expe rimental determination of Lorenz number in metals, semi-metals, alloys and degenerate semiconductors.