Compression of the Alkali Metals to 10 000 Atmospheres at Low Temperature

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Abstract
A technique originally developed by Bridgman has been used to measure the total compressions of the alkali metals (Li, Na, K, Rb and Cs) for pressures up to 10 000 atmospheres at 4.2° and 77°K. The unusual features found were an abnormally low decrease in compressibility with pressure for cesium, probably connected with a smearing out of the electronic transition found at 45 000 atmos at room temperature, and a possible transformation in rubidium at 77°K which resulted in a permanent increase in the room temperature density of about ten percent. A comparison of these data with theoretical work by Bardeen shows better agreement than was obtained with an extrapolation of room temperature data to absolute zero, although the agreement is satisfactory only for sodium. Approximate densities also were obtained at these temperatures, and the agreement with unpublished calculations by Brooks is excellent for all the metals except lithium, where a deviation could be expected to occur.

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