Change of the de Haas – van Alphen frequency of potassium with pressure

Abstract

The pressure dependence of the de Haas – van Alphen frequency in oriented potassium samples has been investigated with pressures up to 4.6 kbar. The change of frequency with pressure is less than that expected from free-electron scaling and the Fermi surface anisotropy increases from 0.13% at zero pressure to 0.47% at 4 kbar. These results are discussed in terms of band structure calculations and the charge density wave (CDW) model of potassium. The CDW energy gap changes with pressure for the CDW model to be applicable.