Electron scattering times from weak localization studies of Au-Pd films

Measurements of weak localization effects have been used to determine various electron scattering times in Au-Pd films with different thicknesses d and resistivities ρ, which have been prepared by sputtering and thermal evaporation. In all cases the inelastic scattering appears to be due to two-dimensional electron-electron scattering in the presence of disorder. For the sputtered films the magnitude of the inelastic scattering time ${\tau }_i$ is in reasonable agreement with the theory. However, a similar analysis of the results for the evaporated films seems to indicate that in this case the magnitude of ${\tau }_i$ is not consistent with the theory. The spin-spin scattering time ${\tau }_s$ was found to vary as d and ρ were changed. The observed variation of ${\tau }_s$ does not appear to be consistent with current theories.