Magnetic Susceptibility of Zinc at Liquid Hydrogen Temperatures

Abstract

The magnetic susceptibility of zinc has been investigated down to liquid hydrogen temperatures in fields ranging from 3 to 10.5 kilogauss. Measurements were made on single and polycrystalline specimens by the Faraday method. At 20°K, the susceptibility parallel to the hexagonal axis shows a marked field dependence similar to that found by de Haas and van Alphen for the susceptibility of bismuth perpendicular to the trigonal axis. Maxima were observed at 4.1, 5.6, and 9.8 kilogauss; minima at 4.8 and 7.1 kilogauss. The amplitude of the oscillations decreases with temperature increase but some field dependence persists to 64°K. The susceptibility in a plane perpendicular to the hexagonal axis remains isotropic down to the lowest temperature investigated (14°K) and is independent of the field. Oscillations in susceptibility characteristic of the de Haas-van Alphen effect were not observed in measurements on a polycrystal.