Evidence of interference between electron-phonon and electron-impurity scattering on the conductivity of thin metal films

The temperature dependence of the resistivity ρ of thin gold films (thickness d=100–400 Å) has been measured at T=30 mK–300 K. In a wide temperature range below ${\mathrm{\Theta }}_{\mathit{D}}$/15 (${\mathrm{\Theta }}_{\mathit{D}}$ is the Debye temperature) Δρ(T)/ρ is proportional to ${\mathit{T}}^2$ and does not depend on the mean free path of electrons. Experimental determinations of the dependences Δρ(T)/ρ in this temperature range are in good agreement with the correction to the impurity resistivity of a normal metal due to the quantum interference between the electron-phonon and electron-impurity interactions.