Ultrasonic studies on bismuth-antimony alloys

Abstract

Investigations of ultrasonic velocity and absorption are carried out on bismuth-antimony alloys with a concentration of 0-60 at%antimony using the composite oscillator method and the pulse method respectively. The elastic constants are estimated from velocity and density measurements. Anomalous variations of elastic constants and ultrasonic attenuation are observed at a certain critical concentration region, and these are interpreted in terms of changes in lattice parameter and carrier concentration. Studies of the temperature variation of Young's modulus and ultrasonic attenuation are also carried out at some of the concentrations. The observed anomalies in ultrasonic properties confirm the peculiar electronic properties of these alloys in that concentration range.