Resistivity of nearly magnetic metals at high temperatures: Application to neptunium and plutonium

Abstract

It is shown that, in nearly magnetic metals, taking into account the temperature depndence of the Stoner susceptibility makes the electron-paramagnon electrical resistivity depart from the usual low-temperature $T^2$ and $T$ power laws at temperatures higher than the spin-fluctuation one. A high-temperature plateau is expected and a maximum may arise at lower temperatures depending on two parameters: the Stoner exchange-enhancement factor and the relative values of the Fermi wavelengths of the conduction and the interacting electrons. Possible fits are presented for the resistivities of palladium, neptunium, and plutonium and the case of strongly exchange-enhanced actinide compounds is also discussed.