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Resistivity from magnetic impurity pairs in metallic alloys

Journal Article · · Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States)
The spin-flip contributions to the electron scattering by a pair of magnetic impurities is found to exhibit a T/sup -1/ behavior in the temperature variation of the cross section. Our calculations provide an explanation for the sharp decrease in the low-temperature resistivities of several alloys in the intermediate concentration regime where the Kondo effect is inoperative and the Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida (RKKY) coupling between impurities is substantial. Accordingly, the size and magnitude of the impurity pair contribution to the resistivity is a senstive function of the impurity concentration and the electronic structure of the host metal. Our computations agree with the data of CuMn/sub x/, AgMn/sub x/, AuMn/sub x/, and AuCr/sub x/, and they predict the observed variation of the resistivity maximum with impurity concentration using a standard RKKY coupling between impurities.
Research Organization:
Department of Physics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22901
OSTI ID:
5853103
Journal Information:
Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States) Vol. 36:1; ISSN PRBMD
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English