Universal lower bounds on energy and momentum diffusion in liquids

Thermal energy can be conducted by different mechanisms including by single particles or collective excitations. Thermal conductivity is system-specific and shows a richness of behaviors currently explored in different systems, including insulators, strange metals, and cuprate superconductors. Here, we show that despite the seeming complexity of thermal transport, the thermal diffusivity alpha of liquids and supercritical fluids has a lower bound that is fixed by fundamental physical constants for each system as alpha(m) = 1/4 pi h/root m(e)m, where m e and m are electron and molecule masses. The newly introduced elementary thermal diffusivity has an absolute lower bound dependent on h and the proton-to-electron mass ratio only. We back up this result by a wide range of experimental data. We also show that theoretical minima of alpha coincide with the fundamental lower limit of kinematic viscosity v(m). Consistent with experiments, this points to a universal lower bound for two distinct properties-energy and momentum diffusion-and a surprising correlation between the two transport mechanisms at their minima We observe that alpha(m) gives the minimum on the phase diagram except in the vicinity of the critical point, whereas v(m) gives the minimum on the entire phase diagram.

Automated summary

The research found that the thermal diffusivity of liquids and supercritical fluids has a lower bound determined by fundamental physical constants and electron and molecule masses. The theoretical minimum of thermal diffusivity aligns with the fundamental lower limit of kinematic viscosity. This indicates a significant correlation between the two transport mechanisms in different systems.