Lorenz number in high Tc superconductors: evidence for bipolarons

Abstract

Strong electron-phonon interaction in cuprates has gathered support over the last decade in a number of experiments. While phonons remain almost unrenormalised, electrons are transformed into itinerent bipolarons and thermally excited polarons when the electron-phonon interaction is strong. We calculate the Lorenz number of the system to show that the Wiedemann-Franz law breaks down because of the interference of polaron and bipolaron contributions in the heat flow. The model fits numerically the experimental Hall Lorenz number, which provides a direct evidence for bipolarons in the cuprates.