The electrical conductivity of thin films of mercury

Abstract

In the present paper an account is given of experimental measurements on the electrical conductivity of thin films of mercury prepared by evaporative deposition in a high vacuum according to the technique described in previous papers (Lovell 1936; Appleyard and Lovell 1937). In a brief preliminary note (Appleyard 1937) we have pointed out that the results for mercury are very different from those for the alkali metals, and that in particular a considerable thickness of mercury must be deposited on the pyrex surface before conductivity begins. We have since confirmed and extended these observations, obtained accurate absolute values for the thickness of the films, investigated their stability, and made an extended study of their temperature coefficients after heat treatment. A comparison with the results of previous workers is given later.