The Hall Effect in Bismuth with Small Magnetic Fields

The Hall coefficient for a bismuth plate of dimensions 0.011×0.9×2.0 cm has been measured for magnetic fields ranging from 0.07 to 2.40 gauss. The average value of the Hall coefficient, $R$, in this range was 11.5, and variations of $R$ due to change of field strength in this range were less than experimental errors. For larger fields the Hall coefficient of this specimen decreased from 13.5 for a field of 650 gauss to 5.9 for a field of 8600. It is concluded that for similar ranges of field the data reported by Palmer H. Craig are erroneous, probably because of insulation leakage or uncompensated thermomagnetic effects. A simple method of making very thin bismuth plates is described.