The Peltier effect is a phenomenon discovered by Jean Charles Athanase Peltier in 1834, where an electric current flowing through a junction of two different conductors can either absorb or release heat. The spelling of Peltier is [pɛltje] in IPA phonetic transcription. The first syllable "pɛl" rhymes with "bell" and the second syllable "tje" sounds like the letters "tyeh". This effect is widely used in thermoelectric cooling and heating applications, and has found its place in modern technology.
The Peltier effect refers to a phenomenon in physics where a temperature difference is created when an electric current is passed through a junction between two dissimilar conductors or semiconductors. It is an important thermoelectric effect that occurs due to the interaction between charge carriers and heat flow.
When an electric current is applied to the junction, one side becomes cooler and the other becomes warmer. This occurs because of the transfer of heat from one conductor to the other. The direction of the heat transfer depends on the direction of the current flow. If the current is reversed, the direction of heat transfer also reverses.
The Peltier effect is based on the principles of the Seebeck effect, where a voltage is generated by a temperature difference between two dissimilar conductors. However, in the Peltier effect, the opposite happens – an electric current causes a temperature difference.
This effect finds numerous applications in various fields. It is utilized in refrigeration systems, such as portable coolers or thermoelectric refrigerators. Similarly, the Peltier effect is employed for precise temperature regulation in devices like laser diodes, optical fiber amplifiers, or DNA sequencing machines. It is also used in electronics for cooling computer processors, as it offers an efficient and low-cost cooling mechanism compared to traditional methods like fans or heat sinks.
In summary, the Peltier effect is a thermoelectric phenomenon that occurs when an electric current is passed through a junction between dissimilar conductors, resulting in a temperature difference. It has wide-ranging applications in cooling and temperature regulation systems, particularly in areas where precise control of temperature is required.
The term "Peltier effect" is named after Jean Charles Athanase Peltier, a French physicist who discovered the phenomenon in 1834. Jean Peltier found that when an electric current passes through two dissimilar conductors connected in a closed circuit, there is a transfer or absorption of heat at the junction of the conductors. This thermoelectric phenomenon was later named the "Peltier effect" in honor of him.