Electronic properties and phase transitions in calcium, strontium and barium at elevated temperatures

Abstract

The electrical resistivity and thermopower has been measured of pure calcium, strontium and barium from room temperature to near their melting points. From discontinuities observed in these parameters as functions of temperature, the phase transition is placed, from fcc to bcc in calcium at Tc=428 +or- 2 degrees C, and that in strontium at Tc=542 +or- 2 degrees C, both at ambient pressure. No sharp discontinuity is seen in either rho(T) or s(T) for barium; s(T), however, does show a broad maximum for this metal. The data on Tc is compared with recent pseudopotential calculations.