Metallic Xenon at Static Pressures

Abstract

Using a diamond indentor, diamond anvil technique along with nonshorting interdigitated electrodes produced on the anvil by lithographic processes, we have shown that the electrical resistance of a xenon sample at 32°K drops from ${10}^{13}$ Ω (or greater) to about ${10}^4$ Ω at 0.33 Mbar. Further studies using a second method reveal that the resistivity has dropped to below ${10}^{-1\mathrm{}}$ Ω cm and possibly much lower.