Size effect in metallic sandwiches

Abstract

The condensation of a metal $M$ onto a metallic substrate $F$ avoids the formation of islands and yields a homogeneous structure of $M$. The theory of the geometrical size effect in such a sandwich is developed and magnetic field effects are included. The size effect in sandwiches allows a series of new and informative experiments. Three experimental examples are presented in which Cu, Pd, and In are quench condensed onto an amorphous substrate at He temperature. The conductance of these films follows the theory exactly, which suggests that they possess a homogeneous structure. The experimental data yield both the mean free path $l$ and the product $\rho$ $l$ for Cu, Pd, and In, where $\rho$ is the resistivity.