Abstract
We show that two commonly used definitions for the heat current give different results—through the Kubo formula—for the heat conductivity of oscillator chains. The difference exists for finite chains, and is expected to be important more generally for small structures. For a chain of particles that are tethered at the ends, the ratio of the heat conductivities calculated with the two currents differs from unity by . For a chain held at constant pressure, the difference from unity decays more slowly, and is consistent with with .
- Received 2 March 2009
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.80.011107
©2009 American Physical Society