Pressure and temperature dependence of electrical resistivity of Pb and Sn from 1-300K and 0-10 GPa-use as continuous resistive pressure monitor accurate over wide temperature range; superconductivity under pressure in Pb, Sn and In

Abstract

The dependence of the electrical resistivity of Pb on hydrostatic pressure is determined over major portions of the temperature and pressure ranges 1-300K and 0-10 GPa (100 kbar), respectively, and for Sn at 300K. The results are compared with a simple Bloch-Gruneisen law including volume changes due to thermal contraction. It is demonstrated that both Pb and Sn are ideally suited for use as accurate resistive manometers, enabling a reliable continuous determination of pressure over a wide temperature range. The agreement between the pressure at low temperatures indicated by both resistive and superconducting (T_c) Pb manometers is excellent. T_c(P) calibration curves are given to 22 GPa for Pb and to 5 GPa for Sn and In. A general method is presented which shows how pressure can be used to test for the presence of electron-electron scattering; in the temperature range studied, T>or=7.2K, electron-phonon scattering constitutes the dominant scattering mechanism in Pb, as expected.