Experimental analysis of the electronic structure of metals

Abstract

After a short résumé of the general ideas and assumptions of the independent-particle model of a metal, an account is given of the experimental methods which have been, or may be, used to determine the details of the model for any given metal, with special reference to the shape of the Fermi surface and the electronic velocity at all points on the Fermi surface. Particular attention is paid to the exposition of the theory underlying each method, and as far as possible only simple mathematical and physical ideas are used. The conditions of application of the methods are discussed, and at the end examples are given of the results so far obtained by their use, with special emphasis on the analysis of the electronic structure of copper. The methods discussed are the following: Magneto-resistance, de Haas-van Alphen and Schubnikov effects, anomalous skin effect, cyclotron resonance, ultrasonic attenuation and magneto-acoustic effects, size effects.