On the galvanomagnetic properties of α-uranium at low temperatures

Abstract

The magnetoresistance of and Hall effect in polycrystalline α-U in the temperature interval 4.2–77K and transverse magnetic fields B to 4T have been investigated. It is found that below 43K the Hall coefficient RH of α-uranium depends on the magnetic field. The strong temperature dependence of the RH below 43K which is due to three charge-density-wave type transitions is confirmed. Above 43K the Hall coefficient is weakly temperature dependent and is independent of the magnetic field. The magnetoresistance is approximately parabolic and does not exhibit any indications of saturating even in strong fields. The application of the isotropic two-band model made it possible to evaluate qualitatively the dependence of the charge carrier density n and mobility μ on the magnetic field (to 4T) and on the temperature in the interval 4.2–77K. It is shown that charge-density-wave type transitions at T<43K are accompanied by a considerable change in n and μ. It is found that at 4.2K n and μ depend strongly on the magnetic field from 0 to 4T. There is no such dependence at temperatures T⩾50K.