Resistance and Magnetoresistance of Thin Indium Wires

The resistances of indium wires of diameter ranging between 0.642 and 0.0156 mm were measured at regular temperature intervals between 1.2 and 4.2°K and in transverse magnetic fields up to 18 kG. The bulk resistivity at 4.2°K, ${\rho }_b\mathrm{}\left(4.2\right)=(0.93\mathrm{}\pm 0.03)\times {10}^{-9\mathrm{}} \Omega$ cm, and bulk mean free path, $l_b\mathrm{}\left(4.2\right)=(1.61\mathrm{}\pm 0.08)\times {10}^{-2\mathrm{}}$ cm, deduced from our data agree with other recent measurements, as does the average Fermi momentum, $p_F=(1.0\mathrm{}\pm 0.15)\times {10}^{-19\mathrm{}}$ g cm/sec, determined from observations of the MacDonald—Sarginson effect. Size-dependent deviations from Kohler's rule suggest that a new magnetoresistive mechanism may be effective in wires of very small diameter ($d<\mathrm{}0.08\mathrm{}$ mm). Comparison of the product ${\rho }_b{l}_b$ at 4.2 and 0°K shows evidence of the size- and temperature-dependent resistivity contribution observed previously in indium and a number of other metals.