Hall Coefficient of Alpha Plutonium

Abstract

The Hall coefficient of alpha plutonium was found to be +2.8×${10}^{-13\mathrm{}}$ at 388°K and -6.5×${10}^{-13\mathrm{}}$ (V-cm)/(A-G) at 78°K. The variation between these extreme temperatures was found to change gradually with temperature and the value changes sign at 190°K. No field dependence of Hall voltage was found, nor did the application of 11 500 G affect the resistivity maximum at 100°K. It is concluded that the resistivity maximum is not due to magnetic ordering. An observation by Loasby and Taylor that the Hall coefficient changes with time at 77°K was not confirmed here. The results were used to calculate the numbers of holes and electrons as a function of temperature on the two-band model. The calculations show that a narrow $5f-6d$ band and broad $7s$ conduction band is more likely than a narrow $5f$ and broad $6d$ band.