Electron transport in metallic glasses

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The electron transport properties (resistivity, Hall coefficient and thermopower) of nonmagnetic metallic glasses of high resistivity are compared with what would be expected on the basis of conventional Boltzmann theory. The thermopower is found to be enhanced at low temperatures because of electron-phonon interaction. In some transition-metal alloys, the Hall coefficient is found to be positive; this is believed to arise from ‘anomalous dispersion’ of the conduction electrons because of s-d hybridization. In order to explain some anomalies of the resistivity and magneto-resistance, weak localization and interaction effects have to be invoked. These involve interference effects that arise when the conduction electrons suffer multiple elastic scattering in their diffusive path through the alloy. The physics behind these effects is outlined.