Effect of impurities on scattering time anisotropy in the alkalis

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Abstract
Hayman and Carbotte (1972) have calculated the electron-phonon scattering time tau 0(k,T) for an electron in the state mod k> at temperature T in the alkali metals. They found that the tau 0(k,T)'s can be very anisotropic as k varies over the Fermi surface even when it is spherical. Strictly speaking their results apply only to pure metals. In practice impurities will be present giving rise to an additional scattering mechanism. This will modify the scattering times. The authors find that small concentrations of defects can effectively wash out the anisotropy in the scattering times. This gives rise to a nonlinear behaviour for the resistivity as a function of impurity content. The effect is found to saturate rapidly with concentration and it is also temperature dependent, leading to deviations from Matthiessen's rule.

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