Thermal-transport properties of CeNiSn

We present thermal-conductivity $\ensuremath{\kappa}$ and thermopower S measurements on high-quality single crystalline CeNiSn along the three crystallographic axes $a, b,$ and c in the temperature range between 100 mK and 7 K and in magnetic fields up to 8 T applied along the a axis. Both $\ensuremath{\kappa}$ and S are highly anisotropic. However, characteristic features that may be attributed to the opening of a pseudogap in the electronic density of states (DOS) at the Fermi energy $\ensuremath{\eta}$ below 10 K are seen for all three crystallographic directions. These features are strongly suppressed by a magnetic field of 8 T applied along the a axis. At the lowest temperatures we have evidence for the presence of a residual metallic DOS at $\ensuremath{\eta},$ again for all three directions. The saturation of the reduced Lorenz number ${L/L}₀$ to a value distinctly higher than one is an interesting feature which deserves further investigation.