Abstract
We develop a hydrodynamic description of the resistivity and magnetoresistance of an electron liquid in a smooth disorder potential. This approach is valid when the electron-electron scattering length is sufficiently short. In a broad range of temperatures, the dissipation is dominated by heat fluxes in the electron fluid, and the resistivity is inversely proportional to the thermal conductivity, . This is in striking contrast to the Stokes flow, in which the resistance is independent of and proportional to the fluid viscosity. We also identify a new hydrodynamic mechanism of spin magnetoresistance.
- Received 16 November 2010
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.106.256804
© 2011 American Physical Society