THE PROBLEM OF THE ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY OF METALS

Abstract

It is pointed out that mathematicians in their attempts to form theories of electrical conduction, do not lay emphasis on the fact that at low temperatures resistance, as a rule, does not vanish. In those cases in which it does, it vanishes suddenly. In view of this, the question arises as to whether the right model for conductivity in a metal is visualized. It is suggested that fundamentally a metallic atom is one in which the electron configuration is incomplete.Ordinary conduction consists of a process whereby an electron jumps from one atom to another and remains with the atom it jumps to until it is in a sort of equilibrium with the motions of the electrons already on that atom. In the superconducting state, the electronic orbits of different atoms become synchronized so that when an electron leaves one atom, another electron automatically comes on to the atom to take its place. A study of the resistance-temperature curves as well as other points emphasizes the importance of structure in conductivity.