Resistivity of pure metals at low temperatures. I. The alkali metals

Abstract

A technique is described for measuring resistance in the temperature interval between 1.5 and 20° K continuously. The resistivity of the alkali metals has been determined in this temperature region, and the results have been discussed in comparison with theory. The resistivity of sodium has been found to agree closely with theory, while in the case of the other metals the hypothesis of quasi-free conduction electrons does not seem to be fully justified. Certain observations suggest that small impurities may give rise to anomalies other than the phenomenon of ‘residual’ resistance.