Thermal transport in the hidden-order state of URu₂Si ₂

We present a study of thermal conductivity in the normal state of the heavy-fermion superconductor URu₂Si₂. Ordering at 18 K leads to a steep increase in thermal conductivity and (in contrast with all other cases of magnetic ordering in heavy-fermion compounds) to an enhancement of the Lorenz number. By linking this observation to several other previously reported features, we conclude that most of the carriers disappear in the ordered state and this leads to a drastic increase in both the phononic and electronic mean free path.