We present here a technique to compute electronic thermal conductivity of fluids using quantum-molecular dynamics and the formulation of Chester-Tellung for the Kubo-Greenwood formula. In order to validate our implementation, the electrical and thermal conductivities of liquid aluminum were determined from $70\mathrm{K}$ above the melting point up to $10000\mathrm{K}$. Results agree well with experimental data for Al at $1000\mathrm{K}$. The Lorentz number, defined as $K∕\sigma T$, where $K$ is the thermal conductivity, $\sigma$ is the electrical conductivity, and $T$ is the temperature, is close to the ideal value of $2.44\times {10}^{-8}$ for metals, and the Wiedemann-Franz law is verified.

• Received 4 February 2005

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.72.104202