The influence of a galvanomagnetic stationary vortex current on the magneto-thermoelectric figure of merit of graded inhomogeneous bismuth-antimony alloys

We have studied the influence of a longitudinal graded inhomogeneity in crystals of bismuth-antimony solid solutions on their effective magnetoresistance, which is one of the parameters determining the efficiency (thermoelectric figure of merit) of a thermoelement operating in the presence of a transverse magnetic field. It is shown that, in a thermoelement operating under the action of an external magnetic field, the negative effect of the crystal inhomogeneity caused by the temperature gradient can be compensated for by its graded composition so as to provide for an increase in the thermoelectric figure of merit of the thermoelement.