The thermomagnetic response induced by laser pulses in Bi films at room temperature is studied in this work. We report the experimental dependence of the Nernst-Ettingshausen coefficient on the magnetic field and film thickness. A theoretical approach to explain the observed behavior is performed. The model considers three types of carriers, includes the surfaces scattering mechanisms, and reveals the influence of the inhomogeneous heating produced by the laser irradiation on the transport phenomena.

• Received 23 December 1996

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.56.2221