On the d electron contribution to the electrical conductivity of liquid transition metals

Abstract

A simple theory is presented for the electrical conductivity of liquid metals with d electrons. Taking into account the s-d hybridization and treating the d electrons within the tight binding approximation, the authors study in particular the d electron contribution to the electrical resistivity. Numerical results obtained for a simple band model indicate important d electron contribution to the electrical resistivity. Numerical results obtained for a simple band model indicate important d electron contributions to the electrical conductivity in liquid transition and rare earth metals. One finds that for a nearly half filled band the d electron contribution to the electrical conductivity may be of the same order of magnitude as the one due to s electrons. As the d band becomes more than half filled or more than half empty the d electron contribution to the electrical conductivity decreases.