Low temperature thermoelectric power of LaB6, PrB6 and NdB6

We have measured the thermoelectric power of LaB₆, PrB₆ and NdB₆ in the temperature range 2–20K. PrB₆ and NdB₆ order antiferromagnetically at T_N = 6.99K and 7.74K respectively, whereas LaB₆ is non-magnetic. The thermoelectric power data have a negative maximum near 5.5K in all three hexaborides. This negative peak is thought to be mainly due to phonon drag in LaB₆. In PrB₆ and NdB₆ there is an additional contribution due to magnon drag. It is expected that the high temperature thermoelectric power is mainly due to an electron diffusion term and a contribution due to spin disorder scattering. The thermoelectric power and the resistivity have been compared in the vicinity of T_N. A qualitative similarity in the temperature derivatives of these two quantities has been found for PrB₆ and NdB₆ near T_N.