Determining a Curie temperature (Tc) distribution of a sample comprising magnetic material involves subjecting the sample to an electromagnetic field, heating the sample over a range of temperatures, generating a signal representative of a parameter of the sample that changes as a function of changing sample temperature while the sample is subjected to the electromagnetic field, and determining the Tc distribution of the sample using the generated signal and a multiplicity of predetermined parameters of the sample.

An object of the present invention is to provide a low-cost thermoelectric converter element having high productivity and excellent conversion efficiency. A thermoelectric converter element according to the present invention includes a substrate 4, a magnetic film 2 provided on the substrate 4 with a certain magnetization direction A and formed of a polycrystalline magnetically insulating material, and an electrode 3 provided on the magnetic film 2 with a material exhibiting a spin-orbit interaction. When a temperature gradient is applied to the magnetic film 2, a spin current is generated so as to flow from the magnetic film 2 toward the electrode 3. A current I is generated in a direction perpendicular to the magnetization direction A of the magnetic film 2 by the inverse spin Hall effect in the electrode 3.

A thermoelectric conversion element includes: a magnetic body having a magnetization; and an electromotive body formed of material exhibiting a spin orbit coupling and jointed to the magnetic body. The magnetic body has an upper joint surface jointed to the electromotive body. The upper joint surface has concavities and convexities.

This invention relates to a cooling device which utilizes both thermoelectric and magnetocaloric mechanisms for enhanced cooling applications. Using high thermal conductivity magnetocaloric composites in conjunction with thermoelectric elements acting as thermal switches which are electrically coupled to a magnetization and demagnetization cycle enables the use of larger quantities of magnetocaloric material, and high efficiency solid state cooling can be achieved. Solid state cooling devices are useful for a variety of industrial applications which require cooling, such as, but not limited to cooling of microelectronic devices, cooling on space platforms, etc.

A thermoelectric conversion element includes a magneto-thermoelectric conversion body and a wiring. The magneto-thermoelectric conversion body linearly extends. The wiring is electrically connected to the magneto-thermoelectric conversion body. In the thermoelectric conversion element, an absolute value |S| of a difference between a Seebeck coefficient Sm in the length direction of the magneto-thermoelectric conversion body and a Seebeck coefficient Sc in the length direction of the wiring is 10 V/K or less.

A thermoelectric conversion element includes a magneto-thermoelectric conversion body and a wiring. The magneto-thermoelectric conversion body linearly extends. The wiring is electrically connected to the magneto-thermoelectric conversion body. In the thermoelectric conversion element, an absolute value |S| of a difference between a Seebeck coefficient Sm in the length direction of the magneto-thermoelectric conversion body and a Seebeck coefficient Sc in the length direction of the wiring is 10 V/K or less.

A thermoelectric conversion element includes a thermoelectric conversion portion, a connection portion, and an extension portion. The thermoelectric conversion portion, which includes an electroconductive magnetic body having ferromagnetism or antiferromagnetism and exhibiting an anomalous Nernst effect, linearly extends. The connection portion includes an electroconductive body electrically connected to the thermoelectric conversion portion. The extension portion is formed of, for instance, a magnetic body extending from the thermoelectric conversion portion. In the thermoelectric conversion element, for instance, the extension portion and the connection portion are layered.

A thermoelectric conversion element includes a thermoelectric conversion portion, a connection portion, and an extension portion. The thermoelectric conversion portion, which includes an electroconductive magnetic body having ferromagnetism or antiferromagnetism and exhibiting an anomalous Nernst effect, linearly extends. The connection portion includes an electroconductive body electrically connected to the thermoelectric conversion portion. The extension portion is formed of, for instance, a magnetic body extending from the thermoelectric conversion portion. In the thermoelectric conversion element, for instance, the extension portion and the connection portion are layered.

A system includes at least one capacitor comprising a dielectric material having a Curie temperature, each capacitor exhibiting an increased capacitance at a temperature below the Curie temperature and exhibiting a decreased capacitance at a temperature above the Curie temperature, a liquid source positioned adjacent to the capacitor and having a temperature above the Curie temperature, and means for exposing the capacitor to the liquid source for a predetermined time so the temperature of the dielectric material exceeds the Curie temperature, at which point the capacitance decreases. A voltage storage is connected to the capacitors to capture the increased voltage discharged from the capacitors. The capacitors are then removed from the liquid source and cooled. The capacitors may iteratively be recharged, exposed to the liquid source until their temperature exceeds the Curie temperature, connected to the voltage storage, removed from the liquid source, and cooled.

A thermal oscillator (10) for creating an oscillating heat flux from a stationary spatial thermal gradient between a warm reservoir (20) and a cold reservoir (30) is provided. The thermal oscillator (10) includes a thermal conductor (11) which is connectable to the warm reservoir (20) or to the cold reservoir (30) and configured to conduct a heat flux from the warm reservoir (20) towards the cold reservoir (30), and a thermal switch (12) coupled to the thermal conductor (11) for receiving the heat flux and having a certain difference between two states (S1, S2) of thermal conductance for providing thermal relaxation oscillations such that the oscillating heat flux is created from the received heat flux.