Electronic structure and electron transport of Ca-Mg-Al metallic glasses

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Abstract
Low-temperature specific heats and electrical resistivities were measured on 12 samples in two series of Ca0.7Mg0.3-xAlx and Ca0.6Mg0.4-xAlx metallic glasses over the temperature ranges 1.5-6 and 2-300 K respectively. The Hall coefficient was also measured for all Ca0.7Mg0.3-xAlx metallic glasses in the range 77-300 K. A substantial departure from the free electron behaviour is deduced from the composition dependence of the electronic specific heat coefficient. The electrical resistivity is found to vary widely from 50 to 400 mu Omega cm as Mg is replaced by Al. The temperature dependence of resistivity in the low resistivity regime ( rho <150 mu Omega cm) can be explained in the generalized Faber-Ziman theory. The electron transport in the high-resistivity regime (200-400 mu Omega cm) is found to be still strongly composition- and temperature-dependent. These unique features are, the authors believe, far beyond the scope of the generalised Faber-Ziman theory.