Breakdown of hybridisation at elevated temperatures in some intermetallic compounds

M. Weger, N. F. Mott

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Abstract

The ‘classical’ s-d scattering theory is applied to account for the anomalous temperature dependence of the resistivity in some intermetallic compounds, which possess very narrow peaks in the electronic density of states, due to d or f states. At temperatures where ħ/τe-ph ≈ J, where τe-ph is the electron-phonon scattering time and J a hybridisation integral, the hybridisation is broken, and at higher temperatures the resistivity follows a linear ρ=a + bTlaw. The temperature-independent part a is due to phonons scattering the d or f states, into which the s electrons (which carry most of the electric current) are scattered by the hybridisation integral J. The b T term is due to phonon scattering of the more itinerant s (or p) states into s states. This term does not saturate because the mean free path of the s electrons is still about 10 interatomic spacings, even at high temperatures. The thermoelectric power has a maximum when ħ/τe-ph ≈ J.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)L201-L207
JournalJournal of Physics C: Solid State Physics
Volume18
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - 30 Mar 1985

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