${\mathrm{ErTe}}_3$ is a model system used to explore thermal transport in a layered charge density wave (CDW) material. We present thermal diffusivity, resistivity, and specific-heat data: There is a sharp decrease in thermal conductivity parallel and perpendicular to the primary CDW at the CDW transition temperature. Yet, the resistivity changes more gradually. Using the Wiedemann-Franz law well above and below $T_c$ a consistent description of the thermal transport applies with essentially independent electron and phonon contributions. In the critical regime, no such description is possible; the observed behavior corresponds to a strongly coupled electron-phonon critical “soup.”

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• Charge density waves
• Diffusion
• Heat transfer
• Thermal conductivity
• Resistivity measurements
• Specific heat measurements