Metal-insulator transition in rare-gas-alkali-metal thin films

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Abstract
We report measurements of the conductivity and optical absorption in KrRb and XeCs thin films through the composition range spanning the metal-insulator transition. It is argued from chemical properties of the constituents that the conductivity loss must take the form of a percolative transition. In agreement with this assignment, the optical absorption shows no discontinuous or even marked change through the transitions. "Metallic" and "excitonic" features both persist on each side of the observed transitions in the two systems. The resistivity in metal-rich alloys yields residual resistivities for rare-gas impurities close to the values expected of vacancies, and the resistivity transitions at ∼ 75 at.% rare gas conform rather closely to the prediction of percolation theory.

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