On the thermal conductivity of the intermediate state of a superconductor

The thermal conductivity of the intermediate state of a superconductor is derived assuming that (i) the structure is lamellar, (ii) the electrons carry the heat, (iii) the electronic mean free path is much less than the width of the laminae, and (iv) there is thermal resistance at the boundary between normal and superconducting laminae due to the reflection of the electrons. The theory is applied to the experimental results of Mendelssohn and Shiffman, and it is shown that a fit is possible only if the width of the laminae is very much less than that normally assumed.