Thermal conductivity of doped $\rm\bf La_2CuO_4$ as an example for heat transport by optical phonons in complex materials

Abstract

We investigate the phonon thermal conductivity $\kappa_{\mathrm{ph}}$ of doped $\rm La_2CuO_4$ based on out-of-plane thermal conductivity measurements. When room temperature is approached the temperature dependence of $\kappa_{\mathrm{ph}}$ strongly deviates from the $T^{-1}$-decrease which is usually expected for heat transport by acoustic phonons. Instead, $\kappa_{\mathrm{ph}}$ decreases much weaker or even increases with rising temperature. Simple arguments suggest that such unusual temperature dependencies of $\kappa_{\mathrm{ph}}$ are caused by heat transport via dispersive optical phonons.